Threadfin butterflyfish

The threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

Threadfin butterflyfish
C. a. setifer (Pemba, Tanzania)
C. a. auriga (Sharm el-Sheikh, Red Sea)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
Subgenus: Chaetodon (Rabdophorus)
Species:
C. auriga
Binomial name
Chaetodon auriga
Forsskål, 1775
Synonyms[2]
  • Pomacanthus filamentosus Lacepède, 1802
  • Anisochaetodon auriga (Forsskål, 1775)
  • Linophora auriga (Forsskål, 1775)
  • Rabdophorus linophora auriga (Forsskål, 1775)
  • Sarothrodus auriga (Forsskål, 1775)
  • Tetragonoptrus auriga (Forsskål, 1775)
  • Chaetodon setifer Bloch, 1795
  • Chaetodon auriga setifier (Bloch, 1795)
  • Pomacentrus setifer (Bloch, 1795)
  • Tetragonoptrus setifer (Bloch, 1795)
  • Chaetodon sebanus Cuvier, 1831
  • Chaetodon lunaris Gronow, 1854

Distribution

Chaetodon auriga is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and eastern Africa (south to Mossel Bay, South Africa) to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa Iti, at depths of 1–35 metres (3–115 ft).[2] A single specimen was reported recently (2015) in the western Mediterranean Sea off Italy, a likely result of aquarium release.[3]

Description

Chaetodon auriga is up to 23 centimetres (9 in) long. Its body is white with "chevron" markings on the side. The rear edge of the dorsal fin has a prominent black spot with a trailing filament behind it, and a black vertical band runs through the eye. The fish also has a belly patch of descending oblique dark lines and bright yellow fins.[4] Two subspecies are sometimes recognised: Chaetodon auriga auriga occurs in the Red Sea and lacks the dorsal eyespot; Chaetodon auriga setifer is the spotted population occurring outside the Red Sea.[2]

Taxonomy

It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. Within this group, it is almost certainly a rather close relative of the vagabond butterflyfish (C. vagabundus) and the Indian vagabond butterflyfish (C. decussatus). The C. auriga species group shares the characteristic pattern of two areas of ascending and descending oblique lines, but they differ conspicuously in hindpart coloration.[5][6]

References
  1. Myers, R.F.; Pratchett, M. (2010). "Chaetodon auriga". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165631A6073721. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165631A6073721.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Chaetodon auriga" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (Chaetodon auriga). 2nd Edition. 2021. 366p. CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco.https://ciesm.org/atlas/fishes_2nd_edition/Chaetodon_auriga.pdf
  4. Dianne J. Bray. "Chaetodon auriga". Fishes of Australia. Meseums Victoria. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  5. Jennifer L. Fessler & Mark W. Westneat (2007). "Molecular phylogenetics of the butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae): taxonomy and biogeography of a global coral reef fish family". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 45 (1): 50–68. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.05.018. PMID 17625921.
  6. Kui-Ching Hsu; Jeng-Ping Chen & Kwang-Tsao Shao (2007). "Molecular phylogeny of Chaetodon (Teleostei: Chaetodontidae) in the Indo-West Pacific: evolution in geminate species pairs and species groups" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Suppl. 14: 77–86.
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