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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Horseshoe butterflyfish

Chaetodon pictus Forsskål, 1775
Max Length
-
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
16.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Horseshoe butterflyfish (Chaetodon pictus), first described by Forsskål, 1775 is a fish in the family Chaetodontidae (order Acanthuriformes). It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.The species is kept in the aquarium hobby. Care requirements and behaviour align broadly with other Chaetodontidae kept in the hobby.

Scientific Name
Chaetodon pictus
Authority
Forsskål, 1775
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
16.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

This species is similar to Chaetodon vagabundus except for the following: that the black band running up the rear of the body merges with the black dorsal fin margin and eye band, thus forming a horseshoe mark; the black tail fin bands are replaced by reddish brown bands; and the soft dorsal and anal fins of adults are more pointed .: short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Horseshoe 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

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated. Tropical Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Oman and Gulf of Aden.

🌿 Ecology

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

📐 Morphometrics

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

🌡️ 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
16.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Forsskål, 1775

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Horseshoe butterflyfish.

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