Description:

Dorsal spines: 12-13; Dorsal rays: 23-25; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 18-20.

A whitish (blue-white to greyish) Butterflyfish with distinct dark diagonal stripes that curve posteriorly. A yellow-edged black bar runs through the eye and another 
behind the mouth. Diffuse yellow ventral band. Dorsal fin yellow with black base. Caudal fin yellow with two fine orange bars either side of a black bar and a black 
terminal edge. Anal fin yellow with black stripes. Pectoral and pelvic fins yellow. 

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 20.0 cm TL. 
 

Occur in coral rich areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs (depth 2-25m). Adults occur as individuals or in pairs, and exhibit home-ranging behaviour. Juveniles are 
usually observed among branching corals. Obligate corallivore, but probably feeds on coral mucus, rather than coral tissue. Oviparous. Form pairs during breeding. 
Distinct pairing.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. 
 

Photo (c) 2021 and courtesy Guido Carrara. Photo taken off Anse Possession, Praslin. 
Photo (c) 2021 and courtesy GVI/SPGA. 
Photo courtesy Eleanor Brighton and Chris Mason-Parker (c) 2022 Blue Safari Seychelles/Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles. Photograph taken at Alphonse group 2022.

Bray, D.J. (2021). Chaetodon meyeri in Fishes of Australia. https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2388 (01/11/21). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2021). FishBase. Chaetodon meyeri, Bloch & Schneider 1801. Scrawled butterflyfish https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-meyeri.html (01/11/21). 
Myers, R. & Pratchett, M. (2010). Chaetodon meyeri. The IUCN Red List 2010: e.T165638A6075990. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165638A6075990.en. (01/11/21).
Shaw, I. (2021). Chaetodon meyeri Chaetodontidae. Reef Life Survey. https://www.reeflifesurvey.com/species/chaetodon-meyeri/ (01/11/21). 
Thai National Parks (2021). Scrawled butterflyfish, Chaetodon meyeri, Marcus Elieser Bloch & Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider, 1801. https://www.thainationalparks.com/species/scrawled-butterflyfish (01/11/21). 

Nevill, J.E.G. & Carrara, G. (2021). Chaetodon meyeri, Scrawled butterflyfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc.  https://seatizens.sc/species/chaetodon-meyeri-bloch-schneider-1801/ (edited 18/07/22).