Introduction to Butterfly Fish and its meristic characters

Butterflyfish are vibrant and beautiful marine fish known for their colorful patterns and graceful swimming. They inhabit coral reefs in tropical waters worldwide, often in pairs or small groups. Their distinctive shape, with elongated fins resembling butterfly wings, aids in their maneuverability among the coral. Butterflyfish feed on a diet primarily consisting of coral polyps, algae, and small invertebrates. They play a crucial role in reef ecosystems as both predators and prey, contributing to the overall biodiversity and health of coral reef habitats.

1. University Of Chakwal , Pakistan

2. DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY PRESENTED BY: NOUREEN SHEHZAD
REG NO: 20M-UOC/ZOL-46
BS-ZOOLOGY
SESSION 2020-2024
SUBJECT: ICHTHYOLOGY
SUBMITTED TO: DR SYEDA NADIA AHMAD Topic : Butterfly Fish

3. Introduction
Classification
Distribution
Feeding
Importance
Behaviour
Migratory Behavior
Parental Behavior
Recent Research Butterfly Fish

4. Butterfly Fish Butterflyfish belong to the family Chaetodontidae, which consists of about 129 species .
Butterflyfish come in a wide variety of colors, including yellow, orange, blue, black, and white.
Their bodies are typically deep and compressed, with a small mouth and a single dorsal fin. (Ibim & Ike, 2019). Fig no. 1: Butterfly Fish https://wallhere.com/en/wallpaper/1649163

5. Domain : Eukaryotic Kingdom :Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Actinopterygii Order : Perciformes Family : Chaetodontidae Classification

6. Distribution Butterfly fish, are widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. They thrive in coral reef ecosystems, favoring shallow, clear waters abundant in coral formations. Atlantic Ocean: Habitat includes coral reefs, rocky areas, and coastlines of Brazil and West Africa. Western Pacific Butterfly fish species distributed through out western Pacific Ocean Includes areas around Japan, the Philippines (Takagi et al., 2023) Distribution

7. Morphology Mouth : The mouth of a butterfly fish is small and terminal. Scales : Cycloid scales offer some protection against predators and environmental abrasions. Fin : Butterfly fish typically have dorsal fins, anal fins, and pectoral fins and ventral fins. The anal fin, located near the rear, serves a similar purpose, in steering and precise movements. ( Ibim & Ike, 2019). Fig no. 2: Cycloid Scale https://www.google.com/images

8. Butterflyfish are omnivores, but most butterflyfish feed on a variety of foods, including: Coral polyps
Algae
Sponges
Zooplankton
Star Fish
Shrimp ( Konow & Ferry-Graham, 2023) Feeding

9. Ram Feeding Dislodging ” Feeding Fig no. 3 : Ram Feeding https://images.app.goo.gl/cWLEsDXpTMy7mrLD7 Fig no. 4: Dislodging Feeding https://images.app.goo.gl/cWLEsDXpTMy7mrLD7

10. Ecosystem Contribution: Butterfly fish aid in the dispersal of coral polyps to new areas. This activity promotes the regeneration of coral reefs, contributing to the health and diversity of marine ecosystems. Importance Aesthetic Importance: Butterfly fish play a crucial role in generating income, particularly through the trade of ornamental fish species, contributing to foreign exchange earnings.

11. Migratory Behaviour Butterflyfish exhibit localized movements within coral reef ecosystems. Reasons for Movement Habitat Preferences Breeding Feeding Benefits of Movement Reduced Competition Reproductive Success. ( Konow & Ferry-Graham, 2023) Behaviour Fig no. 5: Migratory Behaviour https://images.app.goo.gl/SyC8c7G2ExZ8YUwC8

12. 2- Parental Behaviour Generally absent; parents may consume their own fry. Mouth Brooding Behaviour: Male parent takes fertilized eggs into mouth and broods until hatching. Provides high degree of protection for eggs. (Konow & Ferry-Graham, 2023) Fig no. 6: Parental Behaviour https://www.quora.com

13. Reef Indicator Species: Sex Change Surprise: The Cleaning Crew: False Eyes for Defense: Underwater Farmers Life Time partner Interesting Facts

14. Coral reefs in Indonesia, including the Islands, Makassar, face significant degradation due to various human activities. Coral reef degradation in Makassar has led to a significant decrease in: live coral cover Impacting marine organisms like invertebrates and reef fish. Protecting butterflyfish and their coral reef habitats is essential for preserving marine biodiversity and ecosystem health. (Putra et al., 2024 ) Recent Research Fig no 7 : Coral Reef Ecosystem https://images.app.goo.gl/XtrP7Bti9ryoKGra8

15. Ibim, A. T., & Ike, J. O. (2019). Aspects of the biology and culture of the butterfly fish, Pantodon buchholzi; A potential aquarium fish in Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 23(7), 1273-1277. PUTRA, R. D., KASMAN, K., WIBOWO, K., MAKATIPU, P. C., SIRINGORINGO, R. M., WAYAN, N., … & SARI, T. E. Y. (2024). THE DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF CHAETODONTIDAE FAMILY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH LIVE CORAL COVER IN SPERMONDE ISLANDS, MAKASSAR. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, 19(1), 113-126. Konow, N., & Ferry-Graham, L. (2023). Functional morphology of butterflyfishes. The Biology of butterflyfishes, 19-47. Takagi, J., Fujioka, K., Asai, S., Itaya, Y., Fukuda, H., Ichikawa, K., & Mitamura, H. (2023). Butterflyfish in the temperate western Pacific Ocean. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 106(9), 1907-1913. References