TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)

Genus/species: Forcipiger longirostris

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Yellow with black upper head and silvery white below; extremely elongated snout; black spots on breast, spot on anal fin below tail base. Individuals occasionally turn dark brown, a color phase that does not seem to be related to sex or reproduction. 

Length up to 22 cm (8.5 in)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific from East Africa to Indonesia, Philippines, Hawaii, French Polynesia Japan to Great Barrier Reef. Non-migratory; usually found, in the outer reefs from 3–70 m (9-210 ft).

DIET IN THE WILD: F. longirostris has elongate jaws to feed on a wide range of predominantly attached, benthic invertebrate prey. It is thought that the ‘‘manipulation’’ method is used by butterflyfishes to grip and remove pieces from polychaetes, nemerteans, corals, ascidians, echinoids, hydroids, and other attached prey.
Suction is used when feeding on mobile prey.

REPRODUCTION : Monogamous; form breeding pairs. Ovoviparous, broadcast spawners, with eggs and larvae passing through an extended planktonic stage.

CONSERVATION IUCN Red list Least Concern (LC)

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016

Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157625119200613/with/3142848709/

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/5585

IUCN www.iucnredlist.org/details/165667/0

Encyclopedia of Life  eol.org/pages/204372/details

Waikīkī Aquarium www.waikikiaquarium.org/experience/animal-guide/fishes/bu...

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-GC