butterflyfish

Fish from the Chaetodontidae family. They are small, brilliantly colored bony fishes of tropical seas with a flat, deep body and scaled fins.

Some species of butterflyfish may resemble angelfish or moorish idol, all three of which are under the order Acanthuriformes. Butterflyfish can be distinguished from moorish idol in that the latter has a black tail.

Examples

Butterflyfish of different patterns. Note the ones in the upper center that resemble moorish idol, but these do not have black tails.

See also

• Tropical fish

External links

• Wikipedia: Butterflyfish