Scientific Name
Chaetodon aureofasciatus

Common Name
Golden butterflyfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-22; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 17 - 18; Vertebrae: 24. Body nearly circular. Preopercle obtuse-angled, smooth to finely serrate. Eye diameter is greater than snout length. Dorsal and anal fins strongly and equally rounded and do not appear confluent with caudal fin. Pelvic fins long, extending as far as second anal fin spine base. Juveniles similar in shape to adults. Axillary scale present. Color: Eyebands join at nape and extend to chest as two indistinct lines, the anterior lines again joined. Indistinct dark bordered light stripe in interorbital.

Classification

Classified By

Macleay, 1878

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Pacific

Distribution

Western Pacific: northern Australia, from Western Australia to the Great Barrier Reef; New Guinea and perhaps further into Melanesia. Very closely related to Chaetodon rainfordi and the two species are sympatric over part of their ranges.

Range

0°S - 45°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

15 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 5 - 15 m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

3.34 s.e. 0.61 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

12.5 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)