Raflessi Butterfly

Raflessi Butterfly (Chaetodon rafflesii)

Also known as Raffles’ coralfish, the latticed butterflyfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish in the family Chaetodontidae. It inhabits the Indo-Pacific region. The latticed butterflyfish is predominantly yellow, with dark edges on its scales forming a distinct lattice-like pattern along its sides. A vertical black stripe runs through its eye, and a blue patch is visible on its forehead. The soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin features a dark submarginal band, while the caudal fin displays a broad black stripe through the center. Occasionally, a black spot appears beneath the spiny part of the dorsal fin, and juveniles often have a dark spot on the soft-rayed section. The dorsal fin is composed of 12–13 spines and 21–23 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 18–20 soft rays. This species typically grows up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in total length, with a maximum recorded length of 18 cm (7.1 in). The species is found across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, ranging from Sri Lanka to the Tuamotu Islands. Its distribution extends north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef, and eastward from Palau to the eastern Caroline Islands in Micronesia. The latticed butterflyfish is relatively uncommon and is typically found in coral-rich environments, including lagoons, protected reef flats, and seaward reefs, at depths of 1 to 20 meters (3.3–65.6 ft). It feeds primarily on sea anemones, polychaete worms, and both soft (octocorallian) and hard (scleractinian) coral polyps. The species is most often seen in pairs.