Butterflyfish
Chaetodon austriacus
The blacktail butterflyfish, also called the black-tailed or exquisite butterflyfish, is a ray-finned fish of the butterflyfish family Chaetodontidae. Native to the western Indian Ocean, it has since reached the Mediterranean as a Lessepsian migrant by way of the Suez Canal.
Family
Chaetodontidae
Avg Size
12-14 cm
Habitat
The species is native to the Red Sea and southern Oman. A single individual was recorded near Tel Aviv, Israel, in 2011, most likely a migrant from the Red Sea.
Behaviour
Blacktail butterflyfish tend to favour coral-rich areas between about 0.5 and 20 m deep, on seaward reefs or in lagoons and bays. Adults usually move in pairs, patrolling a territory or range, while juveniles shelter among coral branches. The species grazes on coral polyps and the tentacles of sea anemones.
Where & When to See It
SS Turkia
Belina Wreck
Big Brother Island
Bluff Point
Daedalus Reef
Eel Gardens
Elphinstone
Erg Abu Ramada
Far Garden
Fiddle Garden
Jackfish Alley
Laguna Reef
Lighthouse
Napoleon Reef
Near Garden
Numidia
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Katy
Ras Um Sid
Ras Zaatar
Salem Express
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Sabina
Small Giftun
South Ras Abu Galum
Abu Dabbab
Abu Ghalawa
Abu Hashish
Abu Kifan
Abu Nuhas
Abu Ramada North
Aida
Amphoras
Banana Reef
Big Giftun
Blue Hole - El Bells
Careless Reef
Carnatic
Chrisoula K
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
Eel Garden
El Erug
El Fanadir
El Fanous West
El Mina Wreck
Erg Sabina
Erg Somaya
Fury Shoals
Giannis D
Gota Abu Ramada
Gota Kebir
Gota Soraya
Habili Ali
Habili Gaffar
Hamda
Jackson Reef
Kimon M
Kormoran
Little Brother Island
Middle Garden
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
North Gabr El Bint
North Ras Abu Galum
Panorama Reef
Paradise
Pinky Wall
Ras Abu Helal
Ras Disha
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Ras Nasrani
Rocky Island
Rosalie Moller
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Sha'ab Sharm
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Claudia
Shaab Eissa
Shaab El Erg
Shaab Eshta
Shaab Petra
Shaab Sataya
Shabrur Um Gamar
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Shark Observatory
Shark's Bay
Siyul Kebira
Small Crack
Sodfa
Soma Bay Garden
Temple
The Alternatives
The Barge at Bluff Point
The Canyon
The Caves
The Islands
The Ulysses
Thistlegorm
Thomas Reef
Three Pools
Tower
Turft El Shahed
Turtle Bay
Turtle Reef
Umm Gamar North
Umm Gamar South
Umm Kharalim
White Knight
Woodhouse Reef
Zabargad Island
Abu Ramada South
Gordon Reef