• Butterflyfish are commonly spotted looking for food around reefs.butterfly fish (chelmon rostratus) image by Lucid_Exposure from Fotolia.com
  
  The butteflyfish species, members of the scientific family known as the Chaetodontidae, includes a total of 114 types of fish, though only six are common in most waters. Out of the six common types only five are seen by divers because the Bank butterflyfish lives in deep waters, too far down for divers to encounter. Butterflyfish are cousins to angelfish, though the angelfish are larger and rounder in appearance.
  
  

Characteristics

• Typically, butterflyfish are under 6 inches long and have thin, disc-shaped bodies. They dart quickly and flit about while swimming and are most recognizable for their stripes. Each member of the species has a thick, dark stripe running vertically across each eye. This stripe is intended to confuse predators into thinking the head of the fish is the tail so when the fish swims away the predator is confused and may think it's going the other direction. Common colors found in the species include blues, yellows, reds and oranges. The forehead slopes inward and the mouth pokes out like a snout.
  
  

Common Types

• Four common types of butterflyfish are easy to identify from their markings. These included the Banded butterflyfish, the Foureye butterflyfish, the Spotfin butterflyfish and the Reef butterflyfish. The Banded butterflyfish, as the name suggests, has about two or three thick bands on its sides, not including the band across the eye that is characteristic of all butterflyfish. The bands are usually black and run vertically. The Foureye butterflyfish does not have bands, but instead has a large black dot with a white circle around it near its tail. The Spotfin fish has a dark spot as well, but it does not have the white ring and is located at the top of the tail. The spot can be small or large. Finally, the Reef butterflyfish lives in waters below 40 feet and has a thick black bar-like stripe on the rear of its body, according to Fish ID.com.
  
  

Behaviour

• Butterflyfish stay close to the reefs that provide them shelter and food. When they travel, they typically go alone or travel with a single partner they have chosen as their mate for life. A school of butterflyfish is not an uncommon sight, but usually they prefer traveling alone or in pairs. At night they hide in the reef to sleep, coming out when it gets light again. Divers spot butterflyfish all around reefs where the fish peck along the surface for food.