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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Marquesas butterflyfish

Chaetodon declivis Randall, 1975
Max Length
12 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
13.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Marquesas butterflyfish (Chaetodon declivis) is a ray-finned fish of the family Chaetodontidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in reef-associated environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 12 cm. With a trophic level of 3.3, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Commercially fished and consumed as food.

Scientific Name
Chaetodon declivis
Authority
Randall, 1975
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
12 cm
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
13.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Marquesas butterflyfish is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Marquesas 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 ? - 23 m . Tropical Central Pacific Ocean: Marquesas Is, Kirimati I.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.3±0.6

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.02291 × L3 (TL)
Max TL
12cm

🌡️ 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
13.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Randall, 1975

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Marquesas 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 Marquesas butterflyfish is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Marquesas 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
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Marquesan Butterflyfish · Marquesas Butterflyfish
🏳️Catalan Peix papallona de les Marqueses
🌍CES klipka markézská
🇩🇰Danish Marquesas-fanefisk
🇩🇪German Marquesas-Falterfisch
🇫🇷French Chaetodon des Marquises · Poisson-papillon des Marquises
🇮🇹Italian Pesce farfalla delle Marchesi
🇵🇹Portuguese Peixe-borboleta-de-Marquesas
🇷🇺Russian Маркизская рыба-бабочка
🇪🇸Spanish Pez mariposa de las Marquesas

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Chaetodon declevis Burgess & Randall 1978 Synonym
Roaops declivis - - Synonym
Roaops declivis wilderi Pyle 1988 Synonym

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Marquesas butterflyfish.

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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