Banded Butterflyfish

Description:

Banded butterflyfishes, also called banded mariposas, butterbuns, butterflyfishes, Portugese butterflies, and school mistresses, were first described by Carl Linnaeus as Chaetodon striatus in 1758. The family name "Chaetodontidae" means "bristle-tooth," while "striatus" refers to their thick black vertical stripes — two on their sides and a third extending from their dorsal fin to their caudal peduncles (tails). Their pelvic fins, except for the spine, are also black. This species has a short snout and a vertically flattened, squarish "disk-shaped" body. They have 12 dorsal spines, 19 to 21 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines, and 16 to 17 anal soft rays. Adult banded butterflyfishes grow to a maximum length of about 15 cm. Maturity is reached at lengths around 12 cm.

Habitat:

The Indians are an uninhabited small archipelago of islets in the British Virgin Islandsin the Caribbean. They are west of the small British Pelican Island and east of the small US Flanagan Island. They are located south of larger British Tortola Island and east of the large US Saint John Island. They were so named because from a distance they were though to resemble a Native American chief's head dress. The Indians are also the second most popular dive site in the British Virgin Islands after the wreck of the RMS Rhone. The shallower side of the Indians are also a popular snorkellingsite, as boats can anchor in the lee of Pelican Island.