Reef Butterflyfish

The Reef Butterflyfish has a body that is yellowish on top and silver-white below, with a yellowish tail. Its body is oval and vertically compressed, almost disc-shaped. A dark black bar runs vertically through the eye, extending onto the head. A second, thicker black bar covers the rear of the body, including the base of the tail fin. The pectoral and pelvic fins are typically translucent, sometimes showing a slight yellow tint on the pelvic fins.

The Reef Butterflyfish is usually seen in monogamous pairs and is very cautious. The pair swims together in a synchronized courtship at dusk before releasing thousands of small, floating eggs. They feed during the day, using their small mouths and slender teeth to eat small invertebrates like worms and shrimp hiding in coral crevices. They are also known to eat the eggs of other species, like Sergeant Majors.