Common Name
French Butterflyfish
Year Described
Durand, 1960
Identification
Dorsal Fin: XIII, 19-20
Anal Fin: III, 15
Pectoral Fin: 13
Lateral Line Scales: 37-41
Body oval and highly compressed. Body asymmetrical with a more rounded upper profile and a more flattened lower profile. Nape strongly concave. Snout long with a medium sized terminal mouth. Slender teeth in jaws in several rows. Preopercular edge lacks spines. Dorsal spines enlarged with deep notches in between spines. Soft dorsal and anal fin rounded. Second anal spine longest. Caudal fin evenly rounded to truncate. Pelvic fins thin and almost reach anus. Pectoral fin under angle of opercle. Lateral line arched in front but incomplete. Axillary scale present. Body, head, and most of median fins scaled.
Color
Body whitish to pale yellow, grading to white on the belly. Thin yellow lines on flanks. Three bands present: one from the spiny dorsal fin through the eye to lower jaw, the second oblique and thick from the fourth dorsal spine to the base of the anal fin and the third a short band on the rear of the dorsal fin. Bands are edged with white. Nape often with a dark line. Dorsal, and anal fins pale yellowish. Pelvic fin dusky to yellow. Spines of fins white. Tail and edge of soft dorsal clear.
Size
Maximum size to 15cm SL. More common to 13.5cm SL.
Habitat
A deep reef species found between 60-230m. Found mostly on rocky substrates and on walls. Seen singly or in pairs.
Range
Scattered records in the Caribbean from the Bahamas to the Lesser Antilles, to off French Guyana, Curacao, and southern Brazil.
References
Allen, G.R., Steene R. & M. Allen. 1998. A guide to angelfishes and butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. 250 p.
Other Notes
Seems to be completely allopatric from Prognathodes aya, which is the closest relative in the W. Atlantic. The three bands easily distinguish it from all the other longnosed butterflyfishes in the area.