Common Name: Ovalspot Butterflyfish

Distribution: Uncommon to rare in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Known from the Indo-Pacific region, north to Japan, south to New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef. In Australia recorded from Western Australia, the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef and Great Barrier Reef in Queensland south to northern New South Wales and including Lord Howe Island.

Ecological Notes: Frequents areas of rich coral, hydroid and anemone growth. Small juveniles secretive in branching corals. Depth range 3 to at least 30 m.

Additional Notes: Yellow body with large black oval spot on upper back. Feeds on coral polyps and small invertebrates. Uncommon across its entire range, this species is usually solitary, forming pairs only when breeding. Grows to 18 cm. 

References: R. Stuart-Smith, G. Edgar, A. Green, I. Shaw, Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia. Reed New Holland Publishers, 2015. p.211.

FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. http://fishbase.ca/summary/Chaetodon-speculum.html. Accessed 11/05/18.