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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Burgess' butterflyfish

Chaetodon burgessi Allen & Starck, 1973
Max Length
14 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.5
Depth
20–130 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
15.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Occur in drop-offs where gorgonians and black corals are abundant. Usually in depths over 40 m, but in some localities much shallower ; usually in depths less than 40 m in East Indian region, solitarily or in pairs (Ref 90102). Reported to have been collected from a depth of 380 feet (= 115.8 m) in Palau (J.C. Delbeek, CAS, pers.comm. 10/2017) . Oviparous . Form pairs during breeding . They do well in the aquarium and are exported from the Philippines . Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Scientific Name
Chaetodon burgessi
Authority
Allen & Starck, 1973
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
14 cm
Depth Range
20–130 m
Trophic Level
3.5
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
15.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 19; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 - 16. Body is white with broad diagonal black stripes across the body, the first from the origin of the first dorsal spine to the soft portion of the anal fin, the second from just anterior of the dorsal fin extending postero-ventrally ending at about the level of the pectoral fin, and the third running vertically across the eye from the forehead . Snout length 2.8-3.0 in HL. Body depth 1.6-1.7 in SL .: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Burgess' butterflyfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

Form pairs during breeding .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 20 - 130 m . Tropical; 19°N - 6°N

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.5±0.37

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.02291 × L3 (TL)
Max TL
14cm
Dorsal Spines
13
Dorsal Rays
19
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
16

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2009

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
15.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.5
Predator
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Allen & Starck, 1973

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Burgess' butterflyfish is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Burgess' butterflyfish is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Burgess' butterflyfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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