Blue-cheeked butterflyfish

Chaetodon semilarvatus

The blue-cheeked butterflyfish, ''Chaetodon semilarvatus'', is a species of butterflyfish . It is found in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, at depths of between 3 and 20 m.

The blue-cheeked butterflyfish belongs to the large subgenus ''Rabdophorus'' which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, it seems closest to a group containing the Blackback butterflyfish , the spot-naped butterflyfish , or the peculiar black-wedged butterflyfish and Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish or "false falcula", . Though the present species does not share their white body with black on the back and caudal peduncle and even lacks the typical eyestripe of ''Chaetodon'', it has the same tell-tale blue vertical lines as these species.
Blue Cheek Butterflyfish Abu Galawa Kebir, Hamata (2009). Endemic of the Red Sea. Up to 30 cm, mostly yellow with orange vertical stripes and, as the name says, a blue cheek. Blue-cheeked butterflyfish,Chaetodon semilarvatus,Egypt,Fall,Geotagged

Appearance

Its length is up to 13 cm . It is mostly yellow, with thin slate blue vertical lines on the sides and a slate blue cheek patch in lieu of the usual black eyestripe of most ''Chaetodon''.

Behavior

This species is one of the few fish species to have long-term mates. In the wild, the fish eats hard corals as well as benthic invertebrates.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderAcanthuriformes
FamilyChaetodontidae
GenusChaetodon
SpeciesC. semilarvatus
Photographed in
Egypt