About Chaetodon multicinctus Garrett, 1863
Pebbled butterflyfish, scientifically named Chaetodon multicinctus Garrett, 1863, grow to a maximum length of 12 centimetres (4.7 in). Their body is white with spotting, and may also have green or yellow shading. Five light brown bands run across the sides of the body. A dark line on the ventral side starts at the anal fins and gradually lightens to yellow as it extends toward the pelvic fins. This species is often confused with the crochet butterflyfish (Chaetodon guentheri) and the speckled butterflyfish (Chaetodon citrinellus), but can be told apart by its vertical bands. A black lengthwise line runs along the dorsal and anal fins, positioned roughly one-third of the fin’s total height inward from the outer margin. The pelvic fins are white, the pectoral fins are transparent, the caudal fin has a black crescent at its center and a dark ring at its base. Pebbled butterflyfish form pairs, particularly for breeding, and they lay eggs. This species is monogamous, aggressively territorial, and mated pairs defend a shared feeding territory. Their diet is fairly specialized, consisting of coral polyps, polychaete worms, and small shrimps. Pebbled butterflyfish are found across the eastern central Pacific Ocean, specifically in waters around the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll. They live close to coral reefs and over rocky areas.
