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Hawaiian
Marine life
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Kona Coast

FOUR-SPOTTED BUTTERFLY FISH (Chaetodon quadrimaculatus) This butterfly fish is unmistakable when seen off our coast. You can't be confused by the coloration as it is not like any other butterfly fish known. The body (which can reach 6 inches in length) is black on the upper portion and is marked with two oval white spots on either side (thus the name); the lower part of the body and the fins are bright yellow in color. A vertical black band passes through the eye and the fins have darker lines through them. This species reaches about 6 inches in length - and is also one that mates for life, often seen in inseparable pairs. We generally see this fish in shallow waters over coral heads, where it feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates and coral. These are seen from Hawaii south to Polynesia. Because of its beauty it is often taken for aquarium purposes, so its numbers are declining, which is a sad situation.