Banded Butterflyfish

The Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon striatus) is a common western-Atlantic butterflyfish marked by bold black vertical bands crossing a white body, one of which runs through the eye to disguise the head. It is a classic disc-shaped butterflyfish with small, brush-like teeth, typically seen in pairs on Caribbean reefs. Juveniles have a false eyespot on the rear dorsal fin that fades with age. The strong black-and-white banding makes it one of the more easily recognized butterflyfish in the region.

Recognize the Banded Butterflyfish by:

• A white body crossed by bold black vertical bars, including one through the eye.
• Dark bands on the rear dorsal fin and tail base.
• Disc-shaped body with a small snout, ~12-16 cm.

The clean black-on-white vertical banding separates it from the chevron-patterned Foureye Butterflyfish that shares its range.

Banded Butterflyfish inhabit coral reefs and rocky reef zones from the shallows to about 20 m across the western Atlantic, from the eastern US and Bermuda through the Caribbean to Brazil. They favour clear-water reefs with coral and structure and are usually seen close to the reef in pairs.

Banded Butterflyfish are diurnal omnivores feeding on coral polyps, small invertebrates, worms, and algae. They typically move in pairs and are thought to form lasting pair bonds, and juveniles will act as occasional cleaners of other fishes. At night they shelter in the reef. Spawning occurs as pairs releasing eggs into the water column above the reef.