The butterfly fish is a generally small sized species of marine fish, found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs. The butterfly fish is well known for it’s brightly coloured body and elaborate markings.
Facts about The Butterflyfish
1. There are more than 100 different species of butterflyfish found distributed throughout the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, meaning that the butterflyfish is a salt-water species of (marine) fish.
2. The average butterfly fish is fairly small and generally grows to around 4 or 5 inches in length. Some species of the butterfly fish however, are known to grow to 8 inches (20 cm) long and some butterfly fish individuals have been known to grow to 30 cm in length.
3. Butterfly fish is named that way because of the attractive colouration of their body. They can be black, orange, yellow, red, silver and white in colour, with different kind of spots and patterns on their body.
4. Butterfly fish has flattened disk-shaped body. It has round tail and uninterrupted dorsal fin.
5. Most butterfly fish live in larger groups called schools.
6. The colour of a butterflyfish looks different at night than it does during the day.
7. Certain butterfly fish are solitary until they find a mating partner. When they find a partner, they travel, hunt and mate together for the rest of their lives.
8. Released eggs become part of the plankton. Most of them will be eaten by animals that feed on plankton. Baby of the butterfly fish is known as “fry”.
9. Since they are very tiny and vulnerable at birth, babies develop armor plates which protect their bodies until they grow and become stronger.
10. Average lifespan of the butterfly fish in the wild is 7 years. They live between 8 and 10 years in the captivity.
