ExploreFish

Raccoon Butterflyfish

Chaetodon lunula

The Raccoon Butterflyfish has a distinctive black mask and is very curious. It loves to swim around coral reefs looking for food.

Habitat: Coral reefs

Appearance

The Raccoon Butterflyfish has a bright yellow body with a distinctive black band across its eyes, resembling a mask. A white band borders the mask, and a prominent black spot near its tail resembles a false eye, setting it apart from other reef fish.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderPerciformesFamilyChaetodontidaeGenusChaetodon

Raccoon Butterflyfish

Interesting facts

At night, their colors subtly shift, making them harder to spot in the dark!

Sometimes they help keep corals clean by nibbling on tiny, unwanted bits.

These fish are like loyal partners, often swimming with the same mate for years!

They use their long snouts to pick tiny snacks from coral crevices.

Special abilities

Raccoon Butterflyfish has a black eye band that helps them camouflage from predators.

Raccoon Butterflyfish has a false eye spot that helps them confuse attacking predators.

Raccoon Butterflyfish can forage at dusk/night, which helps them find food when predators are scarce.

Raccoon Butterflyfish can nibble algae off corals that helps them keep reefs healthy.

Measurements & details

Length: 15-20 cm
Weight: 0.1-0.2 kg
Lifespan: 5-7 years
Swim Speed: 5 km/h
Max Depth: 30 m
Water Type: Saltwater

Diet & Feeding

These fish are omnivores, munching on tiny invertebrates, algae, and coral polyps.

Primary Foods

coral polyps
small crustaceans
algae
worms
sea anemones

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Whitetip reef shark

Triaenodon obesus

Large sharks hunt these fish.

eaten by

Leopard coral grouper

Plectropomus leopardus

Groupers are common predators in reefs.

eats

Staghorn coral

Acropora digitifera

Feeds on polyps for energy.

eats

Cauliflower coral

Pocillopora damicornis

A food source in their habitat.

Traits

Wildlife

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Social

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Colorful

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Piscivorous

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Aquatic

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