Synopsis
Three species of butterflyfishes, Chaetodon multicinctus, C. quadrimaculatus and C. ornatissimus were observed over a seven month period on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii. All three species were found to be exclusively paired. However, C. quadrimaculatus and C. ornatissimus pair mates spent less time together and had longer separations and fewer meetings than did C. multicinctus pairs. All three species occupied and defended intraspecifically exclusive territories. Territories were maintained through mutual avoidance with occasional agonistic interactions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Anderson, G.R.V., A.H. Ehrlich, P.R. Ehrlich J.D. Roughgarden, B.C. Russell & F.H. Talbot. 1981. The community structure of coral reef fishes. Amer. Nat. 117: 476–495.
Bouchon-Navaro, Y. 1981. Quantitative distribution of the Chaetodontidae on a reef of Moorea Island (French Polynesia). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 55: 145–157.
Brown, J.L. 1975. The evolution of behavior. W.W. Norton and Co., New York. 761 pp.
Burgess, W.E. 1978. Butterflyfishes of the world. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 832 pp.
Ehrlich, P.R., F.H. Talbot, B.C. Russell & G.R.V. Anderson. 1977. The behaviour of chaetodontid fishes with special reference to Lorenz's ‘poster colouration’ hypothesis. J. Zool., Lond. 183: 213–228.
Emlen, S.T. & L.W. Oring. 1977. Ecology, sexual selection and the evolution of mating systems. Science 197: 215–223.
Findley, J.S. & M.T. Findley. 1985. A search for pattern in butterfly fish communities. Amer. Nat. 126: 800–816.
Fricke, H.W. 1973. Behaviour as part of ecological adaptation. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 24: 120–144.
Hobson, E.S. 1974. Feeding relationships of teleostean fishes on coral reefs in Kona, Hawaii. U.S. Fish. Bull. 72: 915–1031.
Hourigan, T.F. 1986. An experimental removal of a territorial pomacentrid: effects on the occurrence and behavior of competitors. Env. Biol. Fish. 15: 161–169.
Howell, D.C. 1982. Statistical methods for psychology. Duxbury Press, Boston. 583 pp.
Lobel, P.S. 1978. Diel, lunar and seasonal periodicity in the reproductive behavior of the pomacentrid fishCentropyge potteri and some other reef fishes in Hawaii. Pac. Sci. 32: 193–207.
Neudecker, S. & P.S. Lobel. 1982. Mating systems of chaetodontid and pomacentrid fishes at St. Croix. Z. Tierpsychol. 59: 299–318.
Orians, G.H. 1969. On the evolution of mating systems in birds and mammals. Amer. Nat. 103: 589–603.
Reese, E.S. 1973. Duration of residence by coral reef fishes on ‘home’ reefs. Copeia 1973: 145–149.
Reese, E.S. 1975. A comparative field study of the social behavior and related ecology of reef fishes of the family Chaetodontidae. Z. Tierpsychol. 37: 37–61.
Reese, E.S. 1977. Coevolution of corals and coral feeding fishes of the family Chaetodontidae. Proceedings Third Intern. Coral Reef Symp. 1: 267–274.
Sutton, M. 1985. Patterns of spacing in a coral reef fish in two habitats on the Great Barrier Reef. Anim. Beh. 33: 1332–1337.
Thresher, R.E. 1984. Reproduction in reef fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 399 pp.
Tricas, T.C. 1985. The economics of territoriality in coral-feeding butterflyfishes of Hawaii. Proc. 5th Intl. Coral Reef Congr. 5: 409–414.
Tricas, T.C. 1986. Life history, foraging ecology, and territorial behavior of the Hawaiian butterflyfish, Chaetodon multicinctus. Ph.D. Dissertation, University Hawaii, Honolulu. 248 pp.
Trivers, R.L. 1972. Parental investment and sexual selection. pp. 136–179. In: B. Campbell (ed.) Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man, Aldine Publishing Co., Chicago
Wickler, W. & U. Seibt. 1983. Monogamy: an ambiguous concept. pp. 33–50. In: P. Bateson (ed.) Mate Choice, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Yamsonrat, S. 1980. Sex determination of butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae). Master's thesis, University Hawaii, Honolulu. 15 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Driscoll, J.W., Driscoll, J.L. Pair behavior and spacing in butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae). Environ Biol Fish 22, 29–37 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00000542
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00000542