Chaetodon assarius Waite, 1905
West Australian butterflyfish
Chaetodon assarius
photo by CSIRO

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  13 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 40 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: Western Australia, ranging from the Perth area to Shark Bay. Strays found in southern Indonesia (Ref. 9710).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-22; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 18-19
Biology:  Inhabits rocky reefs and sandy-weed flats (Ref. 3132). Occurs in aggregations (Ref. 9710). Feeds on algae and zooplankton. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Recently discovered in deep water in cold upwelling areas of Bali (Ref. 9710). Unknown to American and European aquarists although can easily be maintained in a tank according to Australian aquarists.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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