The family in general is diurnal and many species feed on coral polyps, but may include algae, polychaete worms, crustaceans, sea urchin feet.
They occasionally occur in groups, but mainly in pairs and sometimes individually.
The Red Sea has 7 endemic species of butterflyfish out of a total of 14.
BLUE CHEEK BUTTERFLYFISH
Chaetodon semilarvatus
RED SEA species, 23cm, fairly common around Jeddah, usually in pairs, sometimes in groups.
Nikonos V, 35mm lens on Ektachrome 100
ORANGEFACE BUTTERFLYFISH
Chaetodon larvatus
RED SEA species, 12cm, mainly found around Acropora coral, mainly in pairs
Nikon F3, 60mm lens on Fuji Velvia
WHITEFACE BUTTERFLYFISH
Chaetodon mesoleucos
RED SEA species, length 13cm, this example found alone.
Nikon F3, 60mm lens on Fuji Velvia
STRIPED BUTTERFLYFISH
Chaetodon fasciatus
RED SEA species similar to C. lunula, 22cm. This shot taken at night
Nikon F3, 60mm lens on Fuji Velvia
THREADFIN BUTTERFLYFISH
Chaetodon auriga
Also found in Indo-pacific, 20cm
Nikon F3, 60mm lens on Fuji Velvia
CROWN BUTTERFLYFISH
Chaetodon paucifasciatus
RED SEA species, 14cm, this particular shot taken at night
Nikon F801, 60mm lens on Fuji Velvia
LONGNOSE BUTTERFLYFISH
Forcipiger flavissimus
Is this possibly F. longirostris
Nikon F3, 60mm lens on Fuji Velvia
SADDLEBACK BUTTERFLYFISH
Chaetodon falcula
Photographed in Maldives, 16cm.
Nikon F3, 60mm lens on Fuji Velvia
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