About Chaetodon semeion Bleeker, 1855
The dotted butterflyfish, scientifically named Chaetodon semeion Bleeker, 1855, is bright golden yellow, with a vertical, teardrop-shaped bar that runs through its eye. It has a blue forehead, and slightly oblique rows of black spots along its flanks. The dorsal, anal, pectoral, and pelvic fins are yellow; the bases of the dorsal and anal fins are black, and a filament grows from the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin. Females have a noticeably thickened abdominal region. This species has 13 to 14 spines and 23 to 26 soft rays in its dorsal fin, while its anal fin has 3 spines and 19 to 22 soft rays. It reaches a maximum total length of 26 centimetres, or 10 inches. Dotted butterflyfish are distributed across the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Maldives to the Tuamotu Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, and south to the Great Barrier Reef. This species occurs at depths of 2 to 30 metres (6.6 to 98.4 ft). It is an uncommon species that lives in coral-rich clear water areas, such as lagoons and semi-protected seaward reefs. It is most often found in pairs or small groups, and is more wary than most other Chaetodon species. It is an oviparous species, and feeds on tunicates, other ascidians, and a variety of benthic invertebrates.
