About Prognathodes aculeatus (Poey, 1860)
Prognathodes aculeatus, commonly called the longsnout butterflyfish, grows to an average length of 2 to 3 inches (5–7.5 cm). It is best known for its distinctive namesake long snout, which is far more noticeable than the snouts of similar species. This species also has a dusky to yellow vertical stripe that runs from the top of its head to its eyes; unlike the stripes on other butterflyfish, this stripe does not extend past the eyes. The upper half of the longsnout butterflyfish is yellow, which transitions to orange, then darkens further to a brownish-orange shade. Its dorsal fin is usually black. This fish is fairly common across its range. It inhabits both natural and artificial reefs, most often at depths between 30 and 200 ft (10–60 m). It can be found off Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, in the Caribbean Sea, and off the coast of Venezuela.
