Ray-finned Fishes of Zihuatanejo

CLASS ACTINOPTERYGII

-Butterflyfishes, Angelfishes, and Allies (Order Acanthuriformes)

-Butterflyfishes (Family Chaetodontidae)

-Genus Chaetodon

-Threebanded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon humeralis)

The Threebanded Butterflyfish, Chaetodon humeralis, is a member of the Butterflyfish or Chaetodontidae Family, and is known in Mexico as mariposa muñeca. The Threebanded Butterflyfish is found in pairs or in small schools in and around rocky areas near shore at depths up to 107 m (350 feet). hey feed on algae and benthic invertebrates.

Diet

Chaetodon humeralis is an omnivorous reef fish that feeds on benthic algae and small benthic invertebrates.

Range

The Threebanded Butterflyfish is endemic to the eastern Pacific, ranging from southern California and the Gulf of California southward along the Pacific coast to Chile.
It occurs in the Pacific waters of Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region.

Habitat

It is strongly associated with rocky reefs and is usually found in shallow coastal water, commonly at about 3–12 m. It is generally encountered in pairs or small groups close to shore.

Description

The Threebanded Butterflyfish has a deep, strongly compressed, oval body and a short pointed snout with small, comb-like teeth. It reaches about 25–26 cm in length.
The body is creamy white to silvery, with three prominent dark bands: one running from the throat through the eye to the nape, one across the body at the pectoral-fin base, and one near the caudal-fin base. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins also have contrasting dark markings.
The lateral line forms a high arch and terminates beneath the rear portion of the dorsal fin.