Raccoon butterflyfish
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- Name / Latin
- Raccoon butterflyfish — Chaetodon lunula
- Brief description
- The raccoon butterflyfish (lunula) is a reef fish of the family Chaetodontidae, widespread in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is recognised by its "raccoon mask" — a black band through the eye with a white edge — and a black spot on the tail base. The body is oval and strongly flattened; main colour is yellow with white areas and oblique dark reddish or brown streaks on the sides. It is usually seen alone, in pairs or small groups on reefs and in lagoons, and feeds on various invertebrates and sometimes coral polyps.
- Size:
- up to 20 cm
- Depth:
- 1–60 m
- Habitat:
- Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Red Sea, Andaman Sea
- Family:
- Chaetodontidae
- Type:
- Fish
- Activity:
- Diurnal
- Conservation status:
- Least Concern (LC) — not threatened with extinction according to IUCN assessment
The raccoon butterflyfish, also known as the lunula (Chaetodon lunula), is a species in the butterflyfish family (Chaetodontidae) with distinctive, memorable coloration. It lives in the warm waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The name comes from the unique black striped pattern around the eyes, which looks like a raccoon mask.
This butterflyfish has typical yellow-and-white body colour with a dark patch around the eyes. These fish usually grow to about 20 cm and prefer coral reefs at depths of 1 to 30 metres.
The raccoon butterflyfish is a predator; its main food is coral polyps, jellyfish and other invertebrates.
