About Chaetodon bennetti Cuvier, 1831
This species is commonly known as the bluelashed butterflyfish, with the scientific name Chaetodon bennetti Cuvier, 1831. The bluelashed butterflyfish has a yellow body. It has a black patch surrounded by a blue circle located below the dorsal fin, and two curved blue lines above its belly. Its vertical black eyestripe has blue lines on both flanking sides. The dorsal fin of this species contains 13 to 14 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 14 to 16 soft rays. This species reaches a maximum total length of 20 centimetres, which equals 7.9 inches. The bluelashed butterflyfish has a wide distribution across the Indo-Pacific region. In the eastern Indian Ocean, it can be found along the eastern coast of Africa, ranging from Somalia to South Africa. It occurs across the Indian Ocean as far north as India and Sri Lanka, and extends into the Pacific Ocean. In the Pacific, its range reaches as far north as Kashiwa-jima in southern Japan, as far south as Lord Howe Island, and as far east as Mangarava in French Polynesia. In Australia, this species occurs at the Indian Ocean territories of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island. In Western Australia, it is found at the Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef. It can also be found at Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and along the eastern Australian coast from the northern Great Barrier Reef in Queensland south to Moreton Bay. Bluelashed butterflyfish inhabit seaward and lagoon reefs in areas with abundant coral growth. Juveniles of this species may be found in shallow Acropora thickets. Adults typically occur in pairs. This species feeds mainly on coral polyps.
