SOLITARY ISLANDS
UNDERWATER
RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

Species Index

Chaetodon pelewensis
(Kner, 1868)

Common Name: Dot and Dash Butterflyfish

Distribution: Uncommon to rare in Solitary Islands Marine Park. Distributed throughout the Pacific Ocean: Australia, including Lord Howe Island, to Fiji, Samoa, Tuamoto Archipelago and the Society Islands. In Australia recorded from Queensland to northern New South Wales and including Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands.

Ecological Notes: Found around reefs, offshore islands and rocky outcrops, shallow to 30 m.

Additional Notes: Feeds mainly on coral polyps and small benthic invertebrates. Adults usually pair during breeding. Distinctly marked with diagonal lines of greyish dots forming lines and yellow “tear drop” stripe over eye. Small juvenile approximately 20 mm long in bottom photograph. Grows to 12.5 cm. 

References: R. Stuart-Smith, G. Edgar, A. Green, I. Shaw, Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia. Reed New Holland Publishers, 2015. p.208.

FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Chaetodon-pelewensis.html. Accessed 11/04/18.

John E. Randall, Gerald R. Allen, Roger C. Steene, Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, 2nd Edition, 1997. Published by Crawford House Publishing Pty Ltd. p.226.