Black backed butterfly fish

Scientific name : Chaetodon melannotus

Rounded shape, medium size (15 cm), horizontal black lines, black back, black saddle on caudal peduncle, black spot in the anus area. Common in lagoon, on back reef and reef front, in areas with rich leather coral cover. Chaetodon ocellicaudus is a very similar species. This has lighter back, always misses the spot on anus, and has a rounded spot instead of a saddle on caudal peduncle. This is another good indicator species, in particular of the health status of leather corals.

Associated organisms
Feeding almost exclusively of soft corals as Sarcophyton and Synularia, it is normally found in areas with a good cover of those octocorals. In pairs or small groups.