Browse animals

Longnose butterflyfish Forcipiger flavissimus

Pairs of longnose butterflyfish occupy territories on rocky shores and reefs at depths from 2 to 114m.

Its long snout, at the end of which is a small mouth with tiny, sharp teeth, enables the fish to explore holes and cracks on the reef for food.

Its diet includes worms, sea urchin tentacles, shrimps, fish eggs and crab larvae.

It is thought that the black spot on the anal fin acts as a false eye to confuse potential predators.

Related to a similar species F. longirostris, which is distinguished only by its longer snout and angular gill cover (rounded in F. flavissimus).   

Butterflyfishes

This is the biggest family of tropical fishes. There are about 120 different species worldwide and about 24 of these live off the southern African shore. Butterflyfishes are so named as they dart to and fro about the reef as butterflies flutter between plants.

Butterflies have mostly black, yellow and white markings. Several species have a large black dot towards the back of their bodies. This ‘eye-spot’ supposedly confuses would-be predators

Most butterflyfishes change colour at night and find cracks and crevices on the reef to sleep.