WhyReef - Fun Facts
The longnose butterflyfish may be small, but it is a tricky fish! Because its body is so flat, the butterflyfish can easily escape predators by swimming in and out of tiny openings in the reef. When it is resting at night, its bright yellow color darkens, so it is not easily seen.
Do you see that black spot on its tail? That is its false eye. Its real eye is covered by a black line. When predators see the longnose butterflyfish, they think its head is its tail and its tail is its head! Confused? Good! That gives it more time to escape.
- Encyclopedia of Life. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.eol.org, version (08/2009). http://www.eol.org
- Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (07/2009). http://www.fishbase.de/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=7229&genusname=Amblyeleotris&speciesname=fasciata
- Shedd Aquarium. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.sheddaquarium.org, version (08/2009). http://www.sheddaquarium.org/sea/fact_sheets.cfm?id=69
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