Bony fish · Perciformes · Chaetodontidae
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Chaetodon lunula
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary
The raccoon butterflyfish is a fish of the family Chaetodontidae. The name refers to the vague colouring on the face, similar to that of a raccoon.
Size
up to 20 cm
Lifespan
9 years
Diet
Omnivore
Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.
Activity
Nocturnal
Active mainly at night.
Social structure
In pairs
Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
Fun facts
- It is nocturnal, which is unusual among butterflyfish: by day it rests in shelter and comes out to feed at dusk.
- It eats nudibranchs, the tentacles of tube worms, other bottom-living invertebrates, algae and coral polyps.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)
- Habitat & environment
- Shallow reef flats in lagoons and on reef fronts of the Indo-Pacific, from 0 to 170 m but almost always above 30 m; the juveniles live among rocks and in intertidal pools
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetodon_lunula
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapWhere to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Raccoon Butterflyfish — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Foureye Butterflyfish
Chaetodon capistratus
Emperor Angelfish
Pomacanthus imperator
Oarfish
Regalecus glesne
Spotted Wobbegong
Orectolobus maculatus
Horn Shark
Heterodontus francisci
Hagfish
Myxine glutinosa
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about raccoon butterflyfish.
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