Oval butterflyfish

Characteristics

The butterflyfish has an oval body with three vertical black streaks above the eye, at the base of the caudal fin, and at the tip of the caudal fin. There are distinct yellow streaks to the left and right of the black streak that passes over the eye. The body is pale orange with dark blue horizontal streaks. The base of the dorsal and caudal fins is whitish.

Ecology

Inhabits coral reefs and forages by pecking the surface of the coral. They may also act in pairs.

Habitat

Kabira Bay, Ishigaki Island

I photographed a pair foraging on coral. Two of them seemed to swim in a line, occasionally dipping their mouths into the coral reef and feeding on polyps.