Chaetodon mertensii

Chaetodontidae
Mertenss Butterflyfish, Atoll Butterflyfish, Merten's Butterflyfish
  • Chaetodon mertensii, Adult, Lord Howe Is, Australia, Photo: Andrew Green
    Chaetodon mertensii, Adult, Lord Howe Is, Australia, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Chaetodon mertensii, Juvenile, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
    Chaetodon mertensii, Juvenile, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
  • Chaetodon mertensii, Adult, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
    Chaetodon mertensii, Adult, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
Distribution
Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Black chevron markings on white, with yellow-orange rear body, white tail base and black band through eye. C. xanthurus in SE Asia has netted pattern on sides.
Information
  • Max Size: 13 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 19.1-29.5°C
  • Depth: 10-120m
  • Habitat: Coral Reef, Rocky Reef
  • Habitat Generalisation Index: 25.7
    Also referred to as the SGI (Species generalisation index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here
Rarity
  • Threats: Exploitation, Habitat degradation
  • IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
  • Occurrence: Common (20% of sites)
    Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
  • Abundance: Few (2 per transect)
    Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
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