Beaked coralfish
(Chelmon rostratus)
Facts
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IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)
Facts about this animal
Chelmon rostratus reaches a length of about 20 cm. It is an easily recognised species because of ist elongated snout and the four golden-yellow bars. It is one of the more inquisite butterfly fish, and may come quite close to divers.
Beaked coralfish are generally seen on sheltered habitats, inner reefs from shallow water down to depths of about 25 m where they feed on coral polyps and small invertebrates.
Did you know?
that the copper-banded butterflyfish has two important survival adaptations? The large conspicuous eyespots above its tail confuse predators and its long snout enables it to reach food in narrow holes.
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | ACTINOPTERYGII |
| Order | PERCIFORMES |
| Suborder | PERCOIDEI |
| Family | POMACANTHIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Chelmon rostratus |
| Name (English) | Beaked coralfish |
| Name (French) | Chelmon à bec médiocre |
| Name (German) | Kupferstreifen-Pinzettfisch |
| Name (Spanish) | Mariposa copperband |
| CITES Status | Not listed |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
Luc Viatour
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans from the Andaman Sea to Southern Japan and Australia |
| Habitat | Coral reefs from surface to a depth of 25 m. |
| Wild population | Unknown |
| Zoo population | Considering that most publc aquaria are not part of the WAZA system and do not register their collections with ISIS, available ISIS data are not significant. |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 51 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Fish must be unpacked carefully and under low illumination.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
BS Thurner Hof
Why do zoos keep this animal
Beaked coralfish are not an endangered species but their habitats, coral reefs, are threatened in many places. They are thus presented by zoos and aquariums as an ambassador species for reef protection.