Species: Chaetodon ocellatus, Spotfin Butterflyfish

Chaetodon ocellatus Bloch, 1787

Spotfin Butterflyfish

Body a strongly compressed oval disc; mouth small, at end of a short, pointed snout; cheek bone free and smooth; teeth long and slender, in bands of 6-9 rows on each jaw; dorsal fin XII-XIII (front spines not elongated), 18-20; anal fin III, 16-17, 2nd anal spine longer than 3rd; rear edges of dorsal and anal fins bluntly angular; tail edge rounded; scales rough, covering dorsal and anal fins as well as head and body; lateral line in a high arch, incomplete (ends under dorsal fin), with 33-39 scales; with a large "axillary process" scale at the upper base of the pelvic fins.

Adult: Head and body white; a black bar from nape to chest through eye; tail base and dorsal, tail, anal and pelvic fins yellow; a black spot at top rear corner of soft dorsal. Juvenile: similar to adult but with the addition of a black bar from dorsal to base of soft anal.

Reaches 20 cm.

Lives on reefs; juveniles in seagrass beds.

Depth range: 0-110 m.

New England to Brazil.