Prognathodes aculeatus, the longsnout butterflyfish, is a speciesofbutterflyfish found in tropical West Atlantic waters. It is also known as the butterbun, the Caribbean longsnout butterflyfishorPoey's butterflyfish.[2] This species should not be confused with the banded longsnout butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus).[3]
Scientific name
[edit]Felipe Poey, the accepted binomial authority for the longsnout butterflyfish
The longsnout butterflyfish was first described in 1860 by Felipe Poey y Aloy and Albert C. L. G. Günther in two separate reports.[4][5] Between them the fish was given three separate scientific names each one in a different genus, though Poey's assignment of the species to Prognathodes is the only valid combination.[5][4][2] It was again described in 1880 by Sauvage who gave it yet another scientific name that has since been synonymized into P. aculeatus.[6]
An average of 2 to 3 in (5–7.5 cm) long, the longsnout butterflyfish is commonly known for its namesake long snout that is much more distinctive than those of similar species.[7] They also have a dusky to yellow colored stripe that runs almost vertically from the top of the head to the eyes (unlike the stripes on other butterflyfishes which extend past the eyes).[7]
The upper half of the longsnout butterflyfish is yellow that changes to orange and again darkens to brownish-orange.[7] The dorsal fin of the fish is usually black.[7]
Longsnout butterflyfish are much more solitary than many other members of their family.[7][8] They also inhabit deeper reefs and spend much of their time foraging in recesses for invertebrates.[2][9] It is also known to eat the tube feetofsea urchins and tube wormtentacles.[2][9] Unlike many other members of its family, the longsnout butterflyfish does not pick parasites from other fish.[10]
^ abPoey, F. 1858-61 Memorias sobra la historia natural de la Isla de Cuba, acompañadas de sumarios Latinos y extractos en Francés. Tomo 2. La Habana. [Sections have subtitles.]. v. 2: 1-96 (1858), 97–336 (1860), 337-442, (1861), Pls. 1-19.
^ abGünther, A. 1860 (13 Oct.) Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum. Catalogue of the acanthopterygian fishes in the collection of the British Museum. Squamipinnes, Cirrhitidae, Triglidae, Trachinidae, Sciaenidae, Polynemidae, Sphyraenidae, Trichiuridae, Scombridae, Carangidae, Xiphiidae. British Mus., London. v. 2: i-xxi + 1-548
^Sauvage, H.-E. 1880Description de quelques poissons de la collection du Muséum d'histoire naturelle. Bulletin de la Société philomathique de Paris (7th Série) v. 4: 220-228.
^ abcdeHumann, Paul and Ned Deloach, Reef Fish Identification Florida Caribbean Bahamas New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, Fl; pp. 32–33
^ abAllen, G.R., R. Steene and M. Allen, 1998. A guide to angelfishes and butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. 250 p.
^ abLieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Harper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
^Böhlke, J.E. and C.C.G. Chaplin, 1993. Fishes of the Bahamas and adjacent tropical waters. 2nd edition. University of Texas Press, Austin.
