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Twospot coralfish (Coradion melanopus) — Chaetodontidae

Twospot coralfish

Coradion melanopus

The Twospot coralfish (Coradion melanopus) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–30.0 m
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, Ryukyu Is., Papua New Guinea, Philippines and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The twospot coralfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a deep, white-silver body with a few brown-orange crossbands and two conspicuous eyespots, one on the dorsal fin and one near the tail base. As a reef-dweller it searches coral reefs for sponges and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Twospot coralfish?

The Twospot coralfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly white and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Twospot coralfish live?

The Twospot coralfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, Ryukyu Is., Papua New Guinea, Philippines and others

How big does the Twospot coralfish get?

The Twospot coralfish grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Twospot coralfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Twospot coralfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Twospot coralfish edible?

Yes, the Twospot coralfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Twospot coralfish (Coradion melanopus) — Chaetodontidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Francois Libert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Twospot coralfish (Coradion melanopus) — Chaetodontidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Twospot coralfish (Coradion melanopus) — Chaetodontidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Ben Costamagna, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Twospot coralfish (Coradion melanopus) — Chaetodontidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Twospot coralfish sourced
Scientific name
Coradion melanopus
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Twoeye coralfish; Two-eyed coralfish; Twospot coralfish; Two spot coralfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, Ryukyu Is., Papua New Guinea, Philippines and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Coradion

More from the family Chaetodontidae

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