Bank butterflyfish

Bank butterflyfish
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Chaetodontidae
Genus:	Prognathodes
Species:	P. aya
Binomial name
	Prognathodes aya; (D. S. Jordan, 1886)
Synonyms
	Chaetodon aya D.S. Jordan, 1886; Chaetodon eques Steindachner, 1903;

The bank butterflyfish (Prognathodes aya) is a

Chaetodontidae. It is found in tropical and sub-tropical waters

of the western Atlantic Ocean.

Description

The Bank butterflyfish is

caudal fin.^[3]^[4] There is also a yellow band located behind the second dark bar that extends from the fifth spine of the dorsal fin, down to the back of the anal fin. ^[4]

Habitat and range

The Bank butterflyfish is uncommon throughout its range. It is found on natural and artificial reefs in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and off the Yucatán Peninsula. It is also found as far north as North Carolina, though it only rarely appears that far north.^[4]

Relationship with humans

In regard to conservation, the Bank butterflyfish is not known to be threatened in any way and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.^[1] Though it is harvested for use in salt water aquaria, this commercial use does not appear to negatively impact the global population of the species.^[1] The Bank butterflyfish is also not protected by name in any specific legislation, though it is known to inhabit a number of protected areas.^[1]

When observed by

scuba divers this fish is generally regarded as shy, and it is known to dart into the shelter of reefs upon approach.^[3] Once properly sheltered, however, some fish will remain at the entrance to whatever crevice they are using, apparently to watch divers.^[3]

References

^
doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165621A6070137.en
. Retrieved 20 November 2021.

^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Prognathodes aya" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d *Humann, P. Deloach, N. 2002. ReefFish Identification: Florida- Caribbean- Bahamas. New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, Fl. Third Edition.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Kells, V. Carpenter, K. 2011. A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes from Maine to Texas. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

[iucn_status_20_November_2021-1] 
doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165621A6070137.en
. Retrieved 20 November 2021.

[Fishbase-2] Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Prognathodes aya" in FishBase. December 2019 version.

[humann-3] *Humann, P. Deloach, N. 2002. ReefFish Identification: Florida- Caribbean- Bahamas. New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, Fl. Third Edition.

[kells-4] Kells, V. Carpenter, K. 2011. A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes from Maine to Texas. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

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