Author: Günther, 1860
Chaetodon robustus Günther, 1860
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Chaetodon robustus Günther, 1860 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: anterior part of the body very high upper profile then tapering to the end of the dorsal fin. Vertial fins somewhat with angular margins. D (XI) XII + 21-23; A III + 16-19; V I + 5; P II + 14-16; C n + 15 + n. Lateral line: 33-40 pored scales. The body scales a little in oblique rows, the anterior ones being larger. Colour: ground colour silvery-white with copper reflexions due to the fact that each scale has a narrow yellow margin. A dark brown or black bar falls from the nape, through the eye and ending below the eye. A second vertical black or dark brown bar falls from the second to fourth dorsal spines through base of the pectoral fins and ending close to the ventral roots. Posterior fourth of the body, including both soft dorsal and anal fins and base of the caudal peduncle are dark reddish-brown, more lighter below. Margin of the soft dorsal white, the white stripe penetrating in the posterior part of the band. From interorbital space to the tip of the snout there is a black stripe. Pectorals hyaline. Ventrals orange. Caudal whitish with a submarginal dark-brown stripe Size: to 15 cm.
Habitat: inshore waters, close to the bottom, mostly 30-60 m. Generally a solitary species. Food: bottom invertebrates. Reproduction: no data.
Distribution: West-Africa, from Angola to as far as 30° N.