Many-spined butterflyfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Hemitaurichthys
Species:
H. multispinosus
Binomial name
Hemitaurichthys multispinosus
Randall, 1975
Synonyms[2]

Hemitaurichthys multispinus Burgess & Randall, 1978

The many-spined butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys multispinosus), also known as the multispine butterflyfish or spiny butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish from the family Chaetodontidae, which is associated with deeper reefs around three island groups in the southern central Pacific Ocean.

Description

The many-spined butterflyfish is a rather drab uniform grey colour.[3] It has 14-16 spines in its dorsal fin[2] and 5 spines in the anal fin.[3] The maximum recorded length of this species is 20.8 centimetres (8.2 in).[2]

Distribution

The many-spined butterflyfish is found only around a few island groups in the southern Pacific Ocean. It has been recorded from the British overseas territory of Pitcairn Island, Easter Island in Chile and, a single island in the Austral Islands, Rurutu, in French Polynesia.[1][4]

Habitat and biology

The many-spined butterflyfish occurs on deep seaward coral reefs[1] where it aggregates into schools varying in size from small to large in the middle of the water column at depths between 30 and 50 metres (98 and 164 ft). It feeds on plankton.[5] It is an oviparous species in which the males and females form pairs for breeding.[2]

Taxonomy

The many-spined butterflyfish was first formally described in 1975 by the American ichthyologist John Ernest Randall (1924-2020) with the type locality given as the Patch reef off the Gannet Ridge on the northern side Pitcairn Island.[6]

Utilisation

The many-spined butterflyfish is almost unknown in the aquarium trade.[3] Local fishermen collect this species for food using spears and the piscicide rotenone.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Myers, R.F.; Pratchett, M. (2010). "Hemitaurichthys multispinosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165617A6069257. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165617A6069257.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Hemitaurichthys multispinosus" in FishBase. December year=2019 2006 version.
  3. 1 2 3 "Butterflyfishes of the Genus Hemitaurichthys". wetwebmedia. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Many-spined Butterflyfish". Diveadvisor. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. ↑ R. Pyle (2001). Kent E. Carpenter; Volker H. Niem (eds.). "CHAETODONTIDAE" (PDF). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. FAO, Rome. ISBN 92-5-104302-7.
  6. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Hemitaurichthys multispinosus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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