Description:

Dorsal spines: 8; Dorsal rays: 18-20; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 14-15.

Body subrhomboidal. Dorsal profile of head concave. Terminal mouth. 6-7 rows of long setiform teeth on both jaws and large, dense vomerine patch. Edge of peropercle finely serrated.

Colour. Base colour yellow. A black band, edged in white, runs through the eye and over the head. Two broad oblique, white-edged, black bands on the body. Soft dorsal fin 
orange with white edge and black submarginal line. Caudal peduncle yellow. Caudal fin rays and pectoral fins transparent. 
 

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 14.0 cm SL. 

One of the few Butterflyfish species to frequent deeper waters. Inhabits steep outer reef slopes and drop-offs (depth 22-80 m, usually 50-70 m) with coral and/or rubble areas. 
Feeds on benthic invertebrates and zooplankton. Usually occurs in pairs or small groups. Oviparous. Form pairs during breeding.
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not subject to the artisanal fishery. 

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. (2015). Chaetodon mitratus in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4834 (11/07/22). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.in/summary/8927 (11/07/22). 
Guézé, P. & Maugé, L.A. (1976). "Redécouverte de Chaetodon mitratus Gunther (Pisces: Chaetodontidae)." https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/pleins_textes_5/pt5/travaux_d/29298.pdf (11/07/22).  
Pyle, R. et al. (2010). Chaetodon mitratus. The IUCN Red List 2010: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165666A6085100.en. (11/07/22).

Nevill, J.E.G., Brighton, E. & Mason-Parker, C. (2022). Chaetodon mitratus, Indian butterflyfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/chaetodon-mitratus-gunther-1860/