“THE BUTTERBUN” (LONGSNOUT BUTTERFLYFISH)
BAHAMAS REEF FISH (26)
The Atlantic/ Caribbean Longsnout Butterflyfish Prognathodes aculeatus is sometimes known locally as the Longnose (not to be confused with the bright yellow Indo-Pacific Longnose Butterflyfish). The affectionate name for it is ‘Butterbun’. A more scientific name is ‘Poey’s Butterflyfish’, named for the man who first identified the species in 1841.
Mr Felipe Poey
These little fish, 2 0r 3 inches long, are commonly found on reefs from Florida down to Venezuela. Unlike most butterflyfishes, they prefer deeper water and have been found at 200 ft; and they tend to be solitary rather than gregarious.
BUTTERBUN. THAT SUGGESTS THEY ARE PLUMP?
NOPE!
RELATED LINKS
BUTTERFLYFISHES (RH guide to reef, banded, four-eyed & spotfin)
REEF FISH INDEX gateway to loads of colourful finny species
WHAT’S THAT FISH? A handy resource
FLORENT’S GUIDE A ditto
Credits: Melinda Riger for her brilliant underwater images (as marked); plus What’s That Fish?, Florent’s Guide and good old Wiki…
ROLLING HARBOUR ABACO 
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So beautiful!
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And tiny!
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Such a tiny fish! Beautiful little critter, and Melinda’s photos are exquisite. Thanks for the intro, RH.
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Thanks Jet. As always, they were fun to research – esp as I got into an evolutionary tangle with a similar indo-pacific butterfly
fish… RH
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