Thompson's Butterflyfish

Hemitaurichthys thompsoni

Thompson's Butterflyfish is a medium-sized member of the Chaetodontidae family, residing in the Pacific Ocean. The fish's dorsal fin is equipped with 12 spines and 25-27 soft rays, while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 20-21 soft rays. Individuals can reach a length of up to 18 cm. This species is distributed across coral reefs in Oceania, from the Bonin Islands and Guam to Samoa and the Cook Islands. It is commonly found on the outer slopes of reefs and at drop-offs, inhabiting depths between 4 and 300 meters, though most are seen at depths shallower than 40 meters. Thompson's Butterflyfish often gathers in schools, swimming high in the water column. The diet of this fish primarily consists of zooplankton, especially copepods, but it also feeds on coral. As an oviparous species, it forms pairs for breeding purposes. While not as colorful as some other butterflyfish, it is sometimes collected for the aquarium trade. According to the IUCN, it is classified as Least Concern, and it is harmless to humans.