About Chaetodon austriacus Rüppell, 1836
Chaetodon austriacus, commonly known as the black-tailed butterflyfish, reaches a maximum length of 14 cm. Adults have an orange base body covered with thin, curved black stripes; their anal fin and tail are solid black. Juveniles have a whiter upper body and white bands on the tail. Two related species, the melon butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) and the oval butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus), share similar coloration with this species, but have less black coloration on their caudal and anal fins. This species is native to the Red Sea and southern Oman. A single individual was recorded near Tel Aviv, Israel in 2011, and this individual is thought to be a migrant from the Red Sea. Black-tailed butterflyfish inhabit coral-rich areas between 0.5 and 20 meters deep, found on seaward reefs, in lagoons, or in bays. Adults typically occur in pairs that patrol a set territory or range, while juveniles live among coral branches. This species feeds by grazing on coral polyps and sea anemone tentacles.
