Chaetodon humeralis Günther, 1860
Threebanded butterflyfish
Chaetodon humeralis
photo by Munson, L.

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  25.4 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 50 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: San Diego, California, USA to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-20; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 15-17. Body deep, compressed, and disk-shaped; profile of head very steep and slightly concave; snout pronounced; teeth very small, setiform, and set in a comb-like band; base of pelvic spine with an axillary process; lateral line ending under last rays of dorsal fin; body creamy yellow with 5 or 6 dark vertical bars on the head, body and tail (Ref. 55763).
Biology:  Usually observed in pairs or small groups in rocky areas near the shore (Ref. 4858). Feed on algae and benthic invertebrates (Ref. 28023). Form schools with Chaetodipterus zonatus (Ref. 9286). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 5227.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.