• Often very brightly coloured, especially combinations of white, yellow and black
• Distinctive disk-like body shape - narrow for manoeuvring amongst coral reef structures
• Typically found on and around tropical coral reefs
• Usually maximum length of 30cm
• Feeding varies with species, eat coral polyps, invertebrates, algae

Identification Tips

Use your slate to record fin shapes and where stripes and colour borders are in relation to fins, tail, eye, mouth, etc

• Tend to remain on a relatively small area of the reef
• Generally smaller than angelfishes in the family Pomacanthidae
• Species often have distinctive colour patterns, with a stripe or band through eye and a "false eye spot" above the tail
• Display graceful swimming action and very interesting behaviours; known for social behaviour
• Individuals or small groups might swim along the same small patch of reef - try staying in one place near an individual's area to let it approach you.

1. Using snorkel or scuba and underwater slate, try to observe at least 4 different species of Chaetontidae
2. Try sketching the shape and colour patterns of the different species you observe
3. Try estimating the size of individuals you observe
4. Try to observe general behaviours of butterflyfishes

• Chaetodont is latin for "bristle-like teeth"
• Many of the more than 120 species of Chaetodons eat only coral polyps, other will eat algae and invertebrates
• A few species of these colourful "coralfish" are believed to pair bond for life
• Butterflyfishes (in the family Chaetodontidae) are very closely related to angelfishes (in the family Pomacanthidae)