Black-spotted butterflyfish
📖 Overview
Adults are found in coral reefs, solitary or paired. Home-ranging. They feed at least partially on coral polyps . Oviparous . Form pairs during breeding .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21 - 23; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 20. : short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Black-spotted butterflyfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Form pairs during breeding . Monogamous mating is observed as both obligate and social .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range 3 - 15 m . Tropical southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula south to tropical East Africa.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Black-spotted butterflyfish is an edible species."
- 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
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.8 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 118 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Black-spotted butterflyfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Black-spotted Butterflyfish · Dark Butterflyfish · Japanese Butterflyfish · Mystery Butterflyfish |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | سمك الفراشة أسود النقاط |
| 🏳️Catalan | Peix papallona marró |
| 🌍CES | klipka černoskvrnná |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Sortplettet fanefisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Schwarzpunkt-Falterfisch |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce farfalla a punti neri |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Peixe-borboleta-chocolate |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Pez Mariposa de Puntos Negros |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Black-spotted butterflyfish.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .
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