About Hemitaurichthys polylepis (Bleeker, 1857)
The pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis) is a small fish that grows to a maximum length of 18 centimeters. Its body is compressed laterally, with a rounded overall shape. It has a slightly protruding snout and a small, extendable (protrusible) mouth. Its distinctive color pattern makes this species easy to identify: a dark brown-yellow area (whose intensity can vary) covers the entire head, and extends in a line from the first rays of the dorsal fin to the base of the pelvic fins. The rest of the body, including the caudal peduncle and caudal fin, is white. Yellow-orange markings on the upper sides of the body form a characteristic pyramidal shape, which gives the fish its common name. The anal fin is also yellow-orange. This species is widely distributed across tropical and subtropical waters of the central Indo-Pacific, ranging from Cocos Keeling and Christmas Island to Polynesia, and from southern Japan to New Caledonia. Pyramid butterflyfish prefer outer reef slopes, where they can swim out into open water to feed. They are found at depths between 3 and 60 meters.
