Chaetodon rafflesii Anonymous [Bennett], 1830
Family: Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Chaetodon rafflesii, Chaetodontidae, Latticed butterflyfish.
Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name: Latticed butterflyfish
Max. size: 18.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 48636)
Environment: reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 1 – 15 m
Climate: tropical; 32°N – 31°S
Importance: fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: not marketed/unknown
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months(Preliminary K or Fecundity.)
Vulnerability: Low vulnerability (10.00), based on Lmax and K (Ref. 59153
Distribution: Gazetteer Indo-Pacific: Sri Lanka to the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef; Palau (Belau) to the eastern Caroline Islands in Micronesia.
Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 12 – 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21 – 23; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 – 20. Body color is yellow with cross-hatched pattern on the sides. A dark black spot is sometimes present under the spinous portion of the dorsal fin. A black bar runs across the eye. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins have a dark stripe the position of which varies with age.
Biology: An uncommon species found in areas of rich coral growth of lagoon and protected reef flats and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Often in pairs (Ref. 9710, 48636). Feed on sea anemones, polychaetes, and octocorallian and scleractinian coral polyps. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). In captivity, this species should be fed algae stones and the so-called ‘feeding stones’ which are prepared by spreading the food pulp over the stone.
Red List Status: Not Evaluated (Ref. 57073)
Dangerous: harmless
Coordinator: Main Ref: Myers