• EnglishName: Spot-nape butterflyfish
  • Local Name : Thalakalhu bibee
  • Size : Max. 25 cm
  • Family: CHAETODONTIDAE
  • Order : Perciformes
  • Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 12 spines and 22-24 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 18-20 rays. Pectoral fin with 14-16 rays. Body depth 1.7-2.0 in standard length.
  • Colour: Ground colour white, yellow posteriorly. Black spot on nape not connected to the black eye bar. Broad black crescent extends from base of posterior dorsal spines to caudal peduncle, barely continuing onto anal fin. Thin vertical black lines on sides.
  • Habitat and Biology: Usually seen in pairs. Feeds on coral polyps and sea anemones.
  • Distribution: Maldives to New Guinea.
  • Remarks: Chaetodon oxycephalus is very similar to C. lineolatus, but that species has an unbroken eye band. Neither of these two species are ideal for domestic aquaria because of the large sizes that they reach.
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Biodiversity of Maldives
Biodiversity of Maldives