Foureye Butterflyfish

ID points

• A large black eyespot edged in white on each side of the tail base
• Fine lines on the sides form chevrons converging backwards
• A black bar runs vertically through the real eye

Basics

Family

Chaetodontidae

Length

10–15 cm

Depth

1-20 m

Regions

Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Caribbean coral reefs

Habitat

Caribbean reefs and seagrass beds

Diet

Coral polyps, polychaete worms

Easily confused with

Teardrop ButterflyfishA large teardrop-shaped black spot in the middle of the flankButterflyfishFlattened disc-shaped body with a protruding snoutLemon ButterflyfishNeat rows of small black dots on a lemon yellow ground

Fun fact

Two conspicuous black eyespots near the tail confuse predators about which end to strike, a neatly evolved piece of defence.

More in this family

• Bannerfish
• Copperband Butterflyfish
• Eightband Butterflyfish
• Longnose Butterflyfish
• Raccoon Butterflyfish
• Saddleback Butterflyfish