Brown burnies are rather drab compared to other butterflyfish. Other than a dull yellow head they are almost entirely brown. Even their eye bar, characteristic of butterflyfish, is brown.
They are solitary, but sometimes pair up for hunting when they pursue small invertebrates.
The brown burnie is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and has a stable population.
Also known as Blackburn’s butterflyfish.
Rarely grows larger than 14cm.
Inhabits coral reefs no deeper than 50m.