Guam Territorial Fish
Yellow-crowned Butterflyfish (common name) Chaetodon flavocoronatus (scientific name) Overview This small, black-and-white fish with yellow highlights is only found in the deep waters of the coral reefs of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. There are 129 species of butterflyfish found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans identified by their flat, round appearance, their spiky dorsal fins, their coral diet, and their bright coloration, which resembles that of a butterfly (often including the "false eye" common to many butterflies). The coloring of the yellow-crowned butterflyfish is divided diagonally between its white head and belly and its black back and tail. The fish forages along the black corals of the Marianas Islands either singly or in pairs, using the rows of brush-like teeth in its small, protruding mouth to process coral. Close-up STATUS Unofficial PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: Up to 4-5 inches (10-12 cm) Weight: Up to 5 oz (143 g) LIFESPAN 2-4 years HABITAT Adults forage on the reef during the day and rest in reef caves and under coral ledges in the evening. Their depth range is 119–248 ft (36–75 m). Range: The black coral reefs of the Northern Marianas Islands. Water type: Saltwater Water temp: Approximately 86°F (30°C) Conservation Status: Vulnerable DIET Black coral REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: Year-round Mating behavior: Distinct pairing Egg laying: Spawns in warm ocean currents where they release many buoyant eggs into the water, which float until hatching. Adults do not guard the eggs or young. USES Commercial fish, aquarium fish TRIVIA Young butterflyfish ("fry") go through an "armored" stage where their body is covered in bony plates extending from the head. They lose these plates as they mature.
	Click to enlarge an image Yellow-crowned Butterflyfish (Photo T. Allen) CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Chaetodontidae Genus: Chaetodon Species: C. flavocoronatus
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