Photo of a raccoon butterflyfish

Hawaiian tropical fish

raccoon butterflyfish in hawaiian waters

03/23

Scientific name: Chaetodon lunula
Hawaïan name: Kikakapu kapuhili

The raccoon butterflyfish lives in coral reefs and likes to feed on nudibranchs, tubeworm tentacles and small invertabrates. The bottom of the raccoon butterflyfish body is bright yellow and darkens as we get close to the dorsal spine. The eyes are covered with a black mask reminding of the one we can see on raccon's bodies hence the name of this fish (racoon butterfly fish). Finally, a black spot on the tail acts as a decoy against predators.