Genus species (Animalia): Chaetodon trifasciatus

The melon butterflyfish or Indian redfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indian Ocean from East Africa to Western Java. This is one species of a closely related group which includes the Black-tailed Butterflyfish (C. austriacus) of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and the Oval Butterflyfish (C. lunulatus) which is found in the western Pacific, from eastern coasts of the Indonesian islands to Australia.

Melon butterflyfish should not to be confused with Chevron butterflyfish Chaetodon trifascialis, Three-striped butterflyfish Chaetodon tricinctus, or Three-banded butterflyfish Chaetodon robustus.

Description

The Rainbow Butterflyfish, or Melon Butterflyfish, grows to 15 cm. This species has a pale yellowish body which become bluish toward the rear. The body is covered with many oblique purplish stripes.

Both the anal fin and the base of the tail fin are orangeish/reddish, and the base of the anal fin has a yellow-edged black band. There may also be some reddish colouring on the head and snout.

The Rainbow Butterflyfish is territorial and aggressive to other butterflyfishes. They often swim in pairs and their diet consists of coral polyps.

Butterfly fish family: Chaetodontidae

Chaetodontidae, the butterflyfish family, are a group of conspicuous tropical marine fish which includes the bannerfish and coralfish. The approximately 129 species in 12 genera are found mostly on the reefs of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. A number of species pairs occur in the Indian and Pacific Oceans - members of the huge genus Chaetodon.

Wikipedia, diveandrelax.com