Chaetodon trifascialis Quoy & Gaimard, 1825
This is a common Indo-Pacific butterflyfish that feeds exclusively on corals of the genus Acropora. It (and the corals) occur in our area only at Johnston Island and in the vicinity of French Frigate Shoals in the northwestern chain. Although juveniles sometimes settle out around the main Hawaiian Islands, they eventually perish for lack of adult food. Adults are territorial and pugnacious, usually defending one or two large heads of table coral against all competitors. To about 7 in. Indo-Pacific. Photo: Western Indian Ocean.