Why know the butterfly fish?
“Simply because we are among the boldest fish on the reef. You will immediately notice us because we create colorful schools or because we always swim in pairs!”
Why are they called butterfly fish?
Butterfly fish or chetodontids (from the Greek “bristle teeth”) are represented by more than a hundred species. They certainly owe their name to their bright and colourful liveries: from red, yellow, orange, to black and white streaks, which recall the wings of butterflies, but not only…
Butterflies are famous for their “false eyes” called ocelli: round black spots on their wings, which make the butterfly look like two big eyes staring at us and from which we must move away! Similar spots are found on the back of butterfly fish but with the different purpose of distracting the predator.
“We are very clever little fish, our strategies allow us to escape from predators and colonize the coral reef!”
Where do butterfly fish live?
Butterflyfish live in tropical seas around the world, especially in the Indo-Pacific. They are abundant in numbers and species, they are mostly diurnal, only a few species are nocturnal.
“We always stay close to the reef, we love the sunlight filtering through the coral and allowing us to spot our next lunch!”
Butterfly fish are very territorial, so if you happen to dive or snorkel in the same spot on the reef several times, you can be sure that you will always see the same butterfly fish!
“We too have a home and we are willing to do anything to defend it!”
How do we recognize butterfly fish?
In the coral reef, distinguishing the various families of fish based on color is a losing battle from the start.
So in addition to the color we will have to memorize the shape that butterfly fish have:
Butterfly fish are small in size, around 25-30 cm, they have a laterally compressed body, which allows them to easily slip into the crevices created by corals and sponges to hide or feed.
The pectoral fins are short and almost ventral in position, while the dorsal and anal fins tend to be one with the body, in some species (masked butterflyfish); while in others the dorsal fin becomes longer and thinner (banner butterflyfish).
The tail is very rounded, truncated or shaped like a nice wide fan. Thanks to this shape, it can make quick dashes to escape and hide.
The teeth are very close together and thin and are located on the maxilla and mandible.
The dorsal fins are often equipped with spines for defensive purposes.
“We are lethal!”
They have a relatively short snout, with a very elongated and narrow mouth or jaws fused together creating a “suction tube”, or even “scissor”-shaped mouths.
What do butterfly fish eat?
Butterflyfish are excellent predators: feeding on small invertebrates, coral polyps, algae, sponges, anemones and any organism attached to coral branches.
“We eat a bit of everything and the shape of our mouths has adapted perfectly to our favorite snacks!”
The life of butterfly fish:
Butterfly fish reproduce by external fertilization, that is, the male fertilizes the eggs after the female releases them into the water column; from here begins the solitary life of the eggs without any parental care from the parents.
The egg has a spherical and transparent appearance, it hatches after about 28-30 hours. The larva that comes out has the necessary nourishment to grow and will carry out a planktonic life for two months or more, until it settles on the bottom and quickly transforms into a juvenile.
In some species, the young have a slightly different coloration from the adults, until they are one year old, when they will be sexually mature. The average lifespan of a butterflyfish has been estimated at around 3 years, but it is likely that they can live much longer.
The breeding season is between winter and early spring, influenced by the water temperature. The preferred time for mating is sunset: when the male faithfully follows the female in the water column above the reef, waiting for the right moment to fertilize her eggs..
“Come visit us during twilight and we will amaze you with our romance!”
The Romance of Butterfly Fish:
Females and males are completely identical, only in some species the male is slightly larger. These cute fish are often observed swimming in pairs like the masked butterflyfish or in large schools like the banner butterflyfish. Is their bond monogamy?
Despite all the widespread polygamy in the animal world, butterfly fish can be defined as monogamous. These fish create a very stable bond with their partner for their entire life or at least for most of it, to reproduce and not only. In two, it is easier to defend their territory and eat with more "serenity"; in fact, while one eats, the other watches over the safety of both.
But this is not the most curious thing: these couples can also be homosexual in the younger specimens, this means that reproduction is not the priority of these animals but rather survival; at least for that moment!
“As you discover our world, you will realize that we have very deep feelings and bonds, just like you!”
How do butterflyfish communicate?
Sight is the most important sense for hunting but also for communicating with the partner: if the two were to lose visual contact in the coral reef, both would rise a few dozen centimetres to have a wider view and therefore find each other again.
Nature is never banal, however; in fact, many animal species use color changes to communicate: to intimidate an opponent or a predator, for mating and courtship. Well, even some species of butterfly fish use this technique: like the raccoon butterfly fish that signals its aggression by changing color!
“Come and get to know us better and you will discover how to get in touch with us, recognizing and respecting us! Click here”