BennyHubbs95 at 14:39, 18 May 2026

2026-05-18T14:39:27Z

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{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = bep_chaetodon_falcula.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref =<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Allen, G.R. |author2=Myers, R.F. |date=2010 |title=''Chaetodon falcula'' |volume=2010 |article-number=e.T165607A6066720 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165607A6066720.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Chaetodon
| parent = Chaetodon (Rabdophorus)
| species = falcula
| authority = [[Marcus Elieser Bloch|Bloch]], 1795
| synonyms = *''Anisochaetodon falcula'' (Bloch, 1795)
*''Chaetodon dizoster'' [[Achille Valenciennes|Valenciennes]], 1831
*''Tetragonoptrus dizoster'' (Valenciennes, 1831)
| synonyms_ref = <ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Chaetodon|falcula|month=December|year=2019}}</ref>
}}

'''''Chaetodon falcula''''', the '''blackwedged butterflyfish''' or '''falcula butterflyfish''', is a [[species]] of marine [[ray-finned fish]] a [[butterflyfish]] belonging to the [[Family (taxonomy)|family]] [[Chaetodontidae]]. It is found in the Indian Ocean.

==Description==
''Chaetodon falcula'' has a white body which is marked with a number of thin vertical dark grey lines. It has two clear black saddle-like blotches on the dorsal part of the body, a vertical black eye band and a black caudal peduncle. The [[dorsal fin|dorsal]], [[anal fin|anal]] and [[caudal fin]]s are yellow.<ref name = Saltcorner>{{cite web | url = http://www.saltcorner.com/AquariumLibrary/browsespecies.php?CritterID=486 | title = ''Chaetodon falcula'' | access-date = 21 December 2020 | publisher = Bob Goemans | year = 2012 | work = Saltcorner}}</ref> The yellow continues onto the body adjacent to the dorsal and anal fins.<ref name = FofA>{{cite web | author = Bray, D.J. | year = 2020 | title = ''Chaetodon falcula'' | work = Fishes of Australia | access-date = 21 December 2020 | url = https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/5549#summary | publisher = Museums Victoria}}</ref> There are 12–13 spines in the dorsal fin and 23–25 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 20–21 soft rays. This species attains a [[fish measurement|total length]] of {{convert|20|cm|in}}.<ref name = Fishbase/>

==Distribution==
''Chaetodon falcula'' is found in the Indian Ocean where it occurs along the East African coast between Kenya and South Africa, Madagascar and the other western and central islands of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka, southern India, including the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], and from the waters of western Thailand east as far as [[Java]].<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> It occurs in the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]], which are part of Australia, too.<ref name = FofA/>

==Habitat and biology==
''Chaetodon falcula'' is found at depths of {{convert|1|to|15|m|ft}}.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> They are found on the reef edge and upper slope normally in habitats subjected to strong currents although the juveniles hide among corals. Typically seen in pairs or small aggregations,<ref name = Fishbase/> of up to 20 fish.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> Their diet is made up of feeds of the [[Polyp (zoology)|polyps]], worms, [[sea anemones]], [[crustaceans]], [[sponge]]s, the feet of [[sea urchin]] and other invertebrates.<ref name = Saltcorner/> This species forms distinct pairs to breed and the pelagic eggs are scattered in open water.<ref name = fishkeeper>{{cite web | url = https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/marine/butterflyfish/falcula-butterflyfish | title = Falcula Butterflyfish | access-date = 21 December 2020 | publisher = Maidenhead Aquatics}}</ref>

==Systematics==
[[File:Blackwedged Butterflyfish.jpg|thumb|'''Blackwedged Butterflyfish in a tank''']]
''Chaetodon falcula'' was first formally [[Species description|described]] in 1795 by the [[German people|German]] [[physician]] and [[naturalist]] Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723–1797) with the [[Type locality (biology)|type locality]] given as [[Tharangambadi]] in India.<ref name = CofF>{{Cof genus | genus = Chaetodon | access-date = 21 December 2020}}</ref> The [[specific name (zoology)|specific name]] ''falcula'' is a [[diminutive]] of the [[Latin language|Latin]] ''falx'' or ''falcis'' meaning a "sickle" or a "scythe" and is a reference to the wedge shaped black saddle blotches which Bloch illustrated as sickle-shaped, which they are not in modern photographs.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web | url = http://www.etyfish.org/acanthuriformes1/ | title =Order Acanthuriformes (part 1): Families Lobotidae, Pomacanthidae, Drepaneidae and Chaetodontidae | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | access-date = 21 December 2020 | date = 21 July 2020 | author1 = Christopher Scharpf | author2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}</ref>

With its [[sister species]], the similar-looking [[Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish]] (''C. ulietensis''),<ref name = FofA/> ''C. falcula'' belongs to the large [[subgenus]] ''Rabdophorus'' which might warrant recognition as a distinct [[genus]]. Other fairly close relatives are the quite differently-shaped but similarly-coloured [[Lined butterflyfish|lined]] (''C. lineolatus'') and [[Spot-naped butterflyfish|spot-naped butterflyfishes]] (''C. oxycephalus''), while the [[blue-cheeked butterflyfish]] (''C. semilarvatus'') is the sister species to all of these.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Fessler |first=Jennifer L. |last2=Westneat |first2=Mark W. |date=October 2007 |title=Molecular phylogenetics of the butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae): Taxonomy and biogeography of a global coral reef fish family |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1055790307001947 |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |language=en |volume=45 |issue=1 |pages=50–68 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2007.05.018|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Vertical lines are present in all of these species, while a white body with yellow behind and black on back and [[caudal peduncle]] are shared by all but ''C. semilarvatus''.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{sealifephotos|218726}}
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q1925587}}

[[Category:Chaetodon|falcula]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1795]]

Chaetodon falcula - Revision history

BennyHubbs95 at 14:39, 18 May 2026