These
fish are rather close to the damselfishes.
Chaetodons or butterflyfishes
The
butterflyfishes are to be seen on the coral zones, some species feeding on coral
polyps. They are curious and come often not far
from the diver. Many butterflyfishes live in couples and are
sedentary. They thus remain in a restricted perimeter not
exceeding a few hundreds of mē. These fishes are relatively small
(less than 20 cm) and have a slow growth and a rather weak
recruitment. They are seldom fished, except for the greatest
species (Chaetodon auriga, C.ephippium) which are
relatively appraised.
Pomacanthidae
or angelfishes
The
angelfishes are divided into three groups. On the one hand "Centropyge" which are herbivora of small size which generally live
in couples in not very deep reef zones; on the other hand the
angelfishes which are planctophages (Genicanthus spp.) and
can be
seen especially on the external slopes; finally the large
angelfishes (Pomacanthus spp., Pygoplytes diacanthus) which
prefer the large lagoons calm waters and feed on fixed invertebrates, in particular the
sponges, "tuniciers" and "ascidies". The
angelfishes have all slow growths and great longevities. They are
seldom abundant in the atolls. These species are appraised for the
aquariums in other areas of the Pacific.