Species learning profile
Pyramid butterflyfish
Hemitaurichthys polylepis
Pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis) is a saltwater fish associated with reef habitat in Indo-Pacific. Large schools rise above steep reef slopes to feed.
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At a glance
- Eau
- Eau salée
- Habitat
- Récif
- Longueur maximale
- 18 cm
- Répartition
- Indo-Pacifique
- Famille
- Chaetodontidae
- Ordre
- Perciformes
Observe
How to identify Pyramid butterflyfish
- Large schools rise above steep reef slopes to feed.
- Guide context: reef habitat in Indo-Pacific.
- Reported maximum length: 18 cm — roughly ruler-length. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with reef habitat across Indo-Pacific. Reef crevices provide shelter while current, coral, algae, and neighboring animals supply food.
Behavior
Schools in current above drop-offs
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Zooplankton.
Ecological role
Moves plankton nutrients into reef food webs.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Pyramid butterflyfish peut atteindre environ 18 cm et vit souvent près de Récif.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Reef fish are affected by coral loss, warming, destructive fishing, pollution, and the removal of key grazers or predators.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Pyramid butterflyfish in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections