Types

• The scientific community knows the butterfly fish as the family Chaetodontidae. They have 10 different genera and 124 different species worldwide.
  
  

Features

• All butterflyfish share similar traits, like the round flat disc body and a narrow concave snout. Brightly colored, they are highly desired by saltwater aquarium hobbyists.
  
  

Habitat

• Butterflyfish inhabit the coral reefs in tropical waters. While most butterflyfish stay in water less than 65 feet (20m), some will go as deep as 656 feet (200m). Their diet consists mainly of coral polyps, small invertebrates and algae.
  
  

Geography

• Four species of butterflyfish live in East Pacific coral reefs. The majority, however, enjoy the warm and temperate waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
  
  

Warning

• With the deterioration of coral reefs due to environmental changes, the butterflyfishs' habitat is declining. Four species were in danger of extinction as of 1994.