Rainford's Butterflyfish

Chaetodon rainfordi

Rainford's Butterflyfish, also known as the gold-barred or Northern butterflyfish, is a distinctive marine fish found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is easily recognized by its yellow body adorned with an orange bar running through the eye and another thinner bar at the base of the pectoral fin. Two blue-grey bands edged with yellow-orange add to its unique appearance. The dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins are yellow, and a black spot is typically present on the caudal peduncle. This species grows to a maximum length of 15 cm. Rainford's Butterflyfish inhabits coral reefs in the southwestern Pacific, including areas off southern Papua New Guinea, the Great Barrier Reef, and Lord Howe Island. It prefers depths between 5 and 20 meters, where coral growth is sparse. Juveniles are often found among branching corals. This fish is an obligate corallivore, feeding exclusively on coral polyps. It forms monogamous pairs for breeding and is oviparous. Divers encountering Rainford's Butterflyfish may find them in pairs, swimming gracefully among the corals. However, the species faces threats from coral depletion due to climate change and habitat loss from sedimentation. It is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.