Butterfly-Fish 'May Be At Risk Of Extinction', Study Says

February 25, 2008

Release from: inthenews.co.uk

The black, white and yellow-striped Chevroned butterfly-fish may be at risk of extinction because of man-made pressures, conservationists have warned.

Although widespread around the world, the fish is under threat due to its highly specialised diet.

Chevroned butterfly-fish (Chaetodon trifascialis) only eat one sort of coral – Acropora hyacinthus – but this is being degraded along with other types of coral due to human over-exploitation, pollution and climate change.

In tank trials Dr Morgan Pratchett of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Dr Michael Berumen of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution tested whether the fish would eat from a range of corals if Acropora hyacinthus was not available.

The fish grew well when its favourite coral was available but when this was removed it grew thin, failed to thrive and some died.

"Although extremely widespread, the Chevroned butterfly-fish may be at considerable risk of extinction following ongoing degradation of coral reefs around the world, because the coral itself is exceptionally vulnerable," Dr Pratchett said.

"It is estimated that up to 70 per cent of the world's coral reefs are now badly degraded, which usually involves the loss of this particular coral – and, when it goes, the C. trifascialis also disappear from the reef."

The researchers add that the butterfly-fish is further under threat from aquarium collectors, as they are not suitable to be kept in fish tanks and often die because they cannot eat their main food source.

The study is published in the journal Behavioural Ecology.