Raccoon butterflyfish

a black and white band running around the eye

Scientific name	Chaetodon lunula
English name	Raccoon butterflyfish
Japanese name	蝶斑
Classification	Actinopterygii
Classification details	Perciformes Chaetodontidae
Full length	~25cm
Distribution	Distributed in the Pacific and Indian oceans. South of the Boso Peninsula in Japan.

Characteristics

A kind of butterflyfish that is orange with black and white bands. Adult fish have a black band running from the pectoral fin to the dorsal fin. The base of the caudal fin is also black. Juveniles have black spots with a yellow border on the back of the body.

Ecology

It inhabits reefs, coral reefs, and tide pools, and eats small underwater animals and algae. Juveniles are dead migratory fish, and they also come to the seas of Kanto on the Kuroshio Current.

Habitat

Miura Peninsula Arasaki

I photographed a juvenile fish swimming alone in the shade of rocks in shallow water. It must be an individual that has died and migrated. There was also a juvenile butterflyfish nearby. It must have been a place where the waves were calm and it was easy for young fish to spend time.