About Caesioperca lepidoptera (Forster, 1801)
The butterfly perch, with the scientific name Caesioperca lepidoptera (Forster, 1801), is a laterally compressed, deep-bodied fish that reaches a maximum length of 47 cm (19 in). Its base body color is pinkish, and it has a large black spot near its posterior end. Adult individuals have a blue band located just behind the eye, blue edges on their fins, and small blue spots across their body. Their pectoral fins are roughly the same length as their head. This species is frequently confused with its close relative, the barber perch (Caesioperca rasor). Unlike the barber perch, the butterfly perch has a deeper body; male butterfly perch are also more pink, and have a dark side blotch instead of a dark side band. Butterfly perch live in temperate waters surrounding Australia and New Zealand, found at depths down to approximately 100 m (328 ft). In Australia, they occur mainly along the coasts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales. They are a schooling species that inhabits coastal reefs and the surrounding areas, where they feed on plankton. At night, butterfly perch shelter in reef crevices and caves.
