Marine Resources Assessment for the Marianas Operating ... - SPREP

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
The longnose hawkfish prefers steep outer reef slopes exposed to strong currents. This species if
found associated with large gorgonians and black corals. In Micronesia, it is confined to depths below
30 m (Myers 1999).
The flame hawkfish is found along surge swept reef fronts and submarine terraces to a depth of about
11 m. This species is most often associated with coral such as Stylophora mordax, Pocillopora
elegans, P. eydouxi, or P. verrucosa (Myers 1999).
Life History—Spawning occurs throughout the year in tropical waters and only during warmer
months in temperate areas. These species usually spawns at dusk or during early nighttime (Myers
1999).
♦ Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Status—Four aquarium species in the family Chaetodontidae are managed in Micronesia as part of
the CHCRT by the WPRFMC (2001) and occur in CNMI and Guam (Amesbury and Myers 2001;
Myers and Donaldson 2003). Each species has EFH designation within the boundaries of the study
area (WPRFMC 2001; NMFS 2004c). In addition, the remaining 27 species of butterflyfishes found in
the study area have designated EFH under the PHCRT (WPRFMC 2001). Currently, no data are
available to determine if butterflyfishes of the CHCRT are approaching an overfished situation (NMFS
2004a). Although harvested as food-fish, the primary value of the butterflyfish is through the
ornamental marine aquarium trade, where they are the third most-frequently exported fish by number
and second highest in total value of all families of aquarium fishes in trade (Pyle 2001b). None of the
four aquarium species are listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (IUCN 2004). The
yellow-crowned butterflyfish, Chaetodon flavocoronatus, is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
of threatened species in the study area (Roberts 1996).
Distribution—Chaetodontids can be found in the tropical to temperate waters of the Atlantic, Indian,
and Pacific Oceans but are most abundant in the Indo-West Pacific region (Froese and Pauly 2004).
The threadfin butterflyfish, Chaetodon auriga, can be found from the west Red Sea and east Africa to
the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie Islands in the west. This species ranges from southern Japan in
the north to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands in the south and throughout Micronesia (Froese and Pauly
2004).
The raccoon butterflyfish, C. lunula, can be found in the Indo-Pacific from east Africa in the west to
the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie Islands in the east. This species ranges from southern Japan
south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands and throughout Micronesia (Froese and Pauly 2004).
The black-backed butterflyfish, C. melannotus, can be found from the Red Sea in the west to Samoa
in the east. This species ranges from Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and throughout Micronesia
(Myers 1999).
The saddled butterflyfish, C. ephippium, can be found distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific
from the Cocos-Keeling Islands in the west to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Tuamoto Islands in the
east. This species ranges as far north as the southern Japan and south to Rowley Shoals and New
South Wales, Australia (Froese and Pauly 2004).
Habitat Preferences—Butterflyfish are diurnal species that are generally found near coral reefs
(Froese and Pauly 2004). Juveniles tend to occupy shallower, more sheltered habitats than adults.
Butterfly fish eggs are planktonic (WPRFMC 2001).
The threadfin butterflyfish can be found in a variety of habitats from rich coral reefs to weedy and
rubble covered areas. They may be found on seaward reefs at depths greater than 30 m (Myers
1999). This species inhabits tropical waters from 30°N to 20°S at depths between 1 and 35 m (Froese
and Pauly 2004).
4-37