BUTTERFLY FISH
CHAETODONTIDAE
Longsnout Butterflyfish
Prognathoides aculteaus
    Ecological Descriptors
Habitat Size (cm) Diet Behaviour Sex 
Co, R 9.5 Cru, Wor I F
Description:
Upper body yellowish, changing towards orange  towards rear, then forming a brown saddle, with white belly.
Long pointed snout. Pelvic and anal fins yellow. Dusky bar from nape to eyes, but does not extend below eye.

Ecology
Normally inhabits moderate to deep tropical waters around reef or rocky areas. Occurs most abundantly at 15 to 55 m, but has been found from 1-100 m depth. Has an elongate snout used for selecting small benthic invertebrates from coral and rock crevices and between sea urchin spines.Often seen nibbling on the tube feet of sea urchins or the tentacles of tubeworm.
It is frequently found adjacent to steep dropoffs or on their upper ledges and is sometimes seen in caves or caverns. Off southern Florida, the habitat consists primarily of large head-forming corals, sponges and alcyonarians. It is generally a solitary species, but sometimes moves around in pairs; the young occasionally form aggregations of eight to 10 fish

Life Cycle
Form pairs during breeding
Longsnout Butterflyfish
(C) Ross Robertson
303
Longsnout Butterflyfish