205: CHAETODONTIDAE (BUTTERFL YFISHES)
polyps, thus not easy to keep in aquaria. Indo-Pacific; south
to Durban.
205.14 Chaetodon trifascialis
Quoy & Gaimard, 1825
PLATE 76
Rightangle butterflyfish
Reghoekige vlindervis
Chaetodon trifascialis Quoy & Gaimard, 1825: 379, PI. 62, Fig. 5
(Guam); Smith, SFSA No. 605b*; Burgess, 1978: 418*; van der Elst, 1981:
147.
o XIII-XIV,14-16; A IV,14-15; P 15; LL 21-27. Body depth 1.8-2.2 in
SL. This species feeds exclusively on coral polyps; not recommended as an
aquarium fish.
Attains 17 cm. Red Sea and Indo-Pacific from Africa to
Hawaii; south to the Tugela River.
205.15 Chaetodon trifasciatus
Mungo Park, 1797
PLATE 76
Purple butterflyfish
Pers vlindervis
Chaetodon trifasciatus Mungo Park, 1797: 34 (Sumatra); Smith, SFSA
No. 593*; Burgess, 1978: 478*.
o XIII-XIV,20-22; A III,18-20; P 14-16; LL 28-34. Snout shorter than
eye diameter; dorsal head profile convex. Juveniles can be adapted to
aquarium life.
Attains 15 cm. Indo-Pacific from South Africa (Kosi Bay)
to Hawaii. The Pacific population has been recognised as a
distinct subspecies (c. trifasciatus lunulatus Quoy &
Gaimard, 1825) by Burgess (1978).
205.16 Chaetodon unimaculatus
Bloch,1787
PLATE 76
Limespot butterflyfish
Eenkol-vlindervis
Chaetodon unimaculatus Bloch, 1787: 75, PI. 201, Fig. 1 (East Indies);
Smith, SFSA No. 594*; Blaber, 1978: 39; Burgess, 1978: 637*; van der
Elst, 1981: 148*.
o XIII,21-23; A III,17-20; P 15-16; LL 35-41. Teeth of outer row enlarged. This species is usually found in pairs; does well in aquaria. Burgess
(1978) recognises the Indian Ocean population as a distinct subspecies (c.
unimaculatus interruptus Ahl, 1923), differing in having a narrower
eyeband that does not extend onto the chest, and body completely yellow,
except for the black spot below posterior 0 spines. The Pacific subspecies
(c. u. unimaculatus) has the eyeband equal in width to the eye, extending
onto the chest, and the body mostly white.
Attains 18 cm. Indian Ocean from Africa to Indonesia;
south to Port Alfred.
630
205.17 Chaetodon vagabundus
Linnaeus, 1758
PLATE 76
Vagabond butterflyfish
Swerwer-vlindervis
Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758: 276 (East Indies); Smith, SFSA
No. 599*; Blaber, 1978: 39; Burgess, 587*; van der Elst, 1981: 149*
o XIII,23-26; A III,19-21; P 15-17; LL 31-38. Does well in aquaria.
Attains 15 cm. Indo-Pacific and Red Sea; south to Durban.
205.18 Chaetodon xanthocephalus
Bennett, 1832
PLATE 77
Yellowhead butterflyfish
Geelkop-vlindervis
Chaetodon xanthocephalus Bennett, 1832: 182 (Ceylon); Smith, SFSA
No. 605*; Burgess, 1978: 602*; Allen, 1980: 235.
o XIII-XIV,23-25; A III,21-23; P 15-17; LL 31-37. Snout plus upper
jaw longer than eye; dorsal head profile distinctly concave.
Colour pattern changes considerably with growth;
juveniles lose the black eyeband and black spot on the
peduncle. Once acclimated, it does well in aquaria. Attains
20 cm. Western Indian Ocean, south to Durban.
205.19 Chaetodon zanzibarensis
Playfair, 1867
PLATES 74 & 77
Zanzibar butterflyfish
Zanzibar-vlindervis
Chaetodon zanzibarensis Playfair, in Playfair & Giinther, 1867: 33, PI.
6, Fig. 1 (Zanzibar); Burgess, 1978: 462*; Allen, 1980: 237*.
o XIII-XIV, 15-17; A III,15-17; P 15-16; LL 32-39. Dorsal head profile
straight.
Black spot on side usually edged in white or bluish colour.
Attains] 5 cm. Zanzibar to Durban plus islands of the western Indian Ocean.
Genus Forcipiger Jordan & McGregor, 1898
Two species, 1 in our area. F. longirostris (Broussonet,
1782) has been reported from the Comores and can be distinguished by its 11 D spines and longer snout (1.1-1.5 in
body depth).
205.20 Forcipiger flavissimus
Jordan & McGregor, 1898
PLATE 77
Longnose butterflyfish
Langneus-vlindervis
Forcipiger flavissimus Jordan & McGregor, in Jordan & Evermann,
1898: 1671 (Clarion Id.); Burgess, 1978: 186; Smith, 1980: 179; van der
Elst, 1981: 150. Forcipiger longirostris (non Broussonet): Smith, SFSA
No. 589*; 1965: 30.
polyps, thus not easy to keep in aquaria. Indo-Pacific; south
to Durban.
205.14 Chaetodon trifascialis
Quoy & Gaimard, 1825
PLATE 76
Rightangle butterflyfish
Reghoekige vlindervis
Chaetodon trifascialis Quoy & Gaimard, 1825: 379, PI. 62, Fig. 5
(Guam); Smith, SFSA No. 605b*; Burgess, 1978: 418*; van der Elst, 1981:
147.
o XIII-XIV,14-16; A IV,14-15; P 15; LL 21-27. Body depth 1.8-2.2 in
SL. This species feeds exclusively on coral polyps; not recommended as an
aquarium fish.
Attains 17 cm. Red Sea and Indo-Pacific from Africa to
Hawaii; south to the Tugela River.
205.15 Chaetodon trifasciatus
Mungo Park, 1797
PLATE 76
Purple butterflyfish
Pers vlindervis
Chaetodon trifasciatus Mungo Park, 1797: 34 (Sumatra); Smith, SFSA
No. 593*; Burgess, 1978: 478*.
o XIII-XIV,20-22; A III,18-20; P 14-16; LL 28-34. Snout shorter than
eye diameter; dorsal head profile convex. Juveniles can be adapted to
aquarium life.
Attains 15 cm. Indo-Pacific from South Africa (Kosi Bay)
to Hawaii. The Pacific population has been recognised as a
distinct subspecies (c. trifasciatus lunulatus Quoy &
Gaimard, 1825) by Burgess (1978).
205.16 Chaetodon unimaculatus
Bloch,1787
PLATE 76
Limespot butterflyfish
Eenkol-vlindervis
Chaetodon unimaculatus Bloch, 1787: 75, PI. 201, Fig. 1 (East Indies);
Smith, SFSA No. 594*; Blaber, 1978: 39; Burgess, 1978: 637*; van der
Elst, 1981: 148*.
o XIII,21-23; A III,17-20; P 15-16; LL 35-41. Teeth of outer row enlarged. This species is usually found in pairs; does well in aquaria. Burgess
(1978) recognises the Indian Ocean population as a distinct subspecies (c.
unimaculatus interruptus Ahl, 1923), differing in having a narrower
eyeband that does not extend onto the chest, and body completely yellow,
except for the black spot below posterior 0 spines. The Pacific subspecies
(c. u. unimaculatus) has the eyeband equal in width to the eye, extending
onto the chest, and the body mostly white.
Attains 18 cm. Indian Ocean from Africa to Indonesia;
south to Port Alfred.
630
205.17 Chaetodon vagabundus
Linnaeus, 1758
PLATE 76
Vagabond butterflyfish
Swerwer-vlindervis
Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758: 276 (East Indies); Smith, SFSA
No. 599*; Blaber, 1978: 39; Burgess, 587*; van der Elst, 1981: 149*
o XIII,23-26; A III,19-21; P 15-17; LL 31-38. Does well in aquaria.
Attains 15 cm. Indo-Pacific and Red Sea; south to Durban.
205.18 Chaetodon xanthocephalus
Bennett, 1832
PLATE 77
Yellowhead butterflyfish
Geelkop-vlindervis
Chaetodon xanthocephalus Bennett, 1832: 182 (Ceylon); Smith, SFSA
No. 605*; Burgess, 1978: 602*; Allen, 1980: 235.
o XIII-XIV,23-25; A III,21-23; P 15-17; LL 31-37. Snout plus upper
jaw longer than eye; dorsal head profile distinctly concave.
Colour pattern changes considerably with growth;
juveniles lose the black eyeband and black spot on the
peduncle. Once acclimated, it does well in aquaria. Attains
20 cm. Western Indian Ocean, south to Durban.
205.19 Chaetodon zanzibarensis
Playfair, 1867
PLATES 74 & 77
Zanzibar butterflyfish
Zanzibar-vlindervis
Chaetodon zanzibarensis Playfair, in Playfair & Giinther, 1867: 33, PI.
6, Fig. 1 (Zanzibar); Burgess, 1978: 462*; Allen, 1980: 237*.
o XIII-XIV, 15-17; A III,15-17; P 15-16; LL 32-39. Dorsal head profile
straight.
Black spot on side usually edged in white or bluish colour.
Attains] 5 cm. Zanzibar to Durban plus islands of the western Indian Ocean.
Genus Forcipiger Jordan & McGregor, 1898
Two species, 1 in our area. F. longirostris (Broussonet,
1782) has been reported from the Comores and can be distinguished by its 11 D spines and longer snout (1.1-1.5 in
body depth).
205.20 Forcipiger flavissimus
Jordan & McGregor, 1898
PLATE 77
Longnose butterflyfish
Langneus-vlindervis
Forcipiger flavissimus Jordan & McGregor, in Jordan & Evermann,
1898: 1671 (Clarion Id.); Burgess, 1978: 186; Smith, 1980: 179; van der
Elst, 1981: 150. Forcipiger longirostris (non Broussonet): Smith, SFSA
No. 589*; 1965: 30.