Blue-cheeked butterflyfish
The blue-cheeked butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the northwestern Indian Ocean.
The bluecheek butterflyfish has a bright yellow body marked with thin vertical red lines. There a greyish patch behind the eyes, whereas most related species have an eye bar. The dorsal, anal, pelvic and caudal fins are yellow. It is a relatively large species of butterflyfish which can attain a maximum total length of 23 centimetres (9.1 in), although 15 centimetres (5.9 in) is more typical.
The bluecheek butterflyfish is found in the northwestern Indian Ocean where it occurs in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as Far East as the coast of Oman.
The bluecheek butterflyfish is one of the few fish species to have long-term mates. In the wild, the fish eats hard corals as well as benthic invertebrates. This is a common species which is found in areas with rich coral growth. They are frequently recorded in pairs or in small shoals. They have been known to occasionally hover in a stationary position for long periods beneath ledges of plate corals of the genus Acropora. It is oviparous species which forms pairs when spawning. This is normally during the day and the fishes emerge and are active at night. They are found at depths between 1 and 20 metres (3.3 and 65.6 ft).
