Appearance
The Spot-banded Butterflyfish grows to a maximum of 12 cm long. Its body is pale grey with close-set grey spots which are aligned in vertical bands, interspersed with yellow, on the upper sides and form horizontal rows on the lower sides. The dorsal fin has a yellow margin and there is a bright orange patch running through the caudal peduncle.
Naming
This is one of the members of the subgenus "Exornator". With the Peppered Butterflyfish it is part of a close-knit group which also includes the Pebbled Butterflyfish and the Sunset Butterflyfish. It is suspected that these four are able to produce fertile hybrids. If the genus "Chaetodon" is split up, "Exornator" might become a subgenus of "Lepidochaetodon".
Habitat
It is found in coral-rich areas and clear waters of seaward and lagoon reefs. This fish feeds on filamentous algae and coral polyps and other benthic invertebrates.References:
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