Name: Georgia Aquarium
Address: 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA, 30313, US
Telephone: +1 404-581-4000

The African butterflyfish is an insectivore and has sensors that detect small waves in the water caused by insects hitting the water's surface.

Physical Characteristics

The body is compressed with a large, upward-facing mouth with a prominent lower jaw and numerous teeth. Large, flat eyes sit high on the head.
- Eye placement allows the African butterfly to see both above and below the water’s surface at the same time.
Enlarged pectoral fins that extend outward. Ventral fins are thread-like and project down below the body while the caudal and anal fins are large and broad.
Coloration consists of brown, gray or olive, all with a silver sheen.
- Often have dark markings on their fins and underside.
- Average size is 2-4 inches (5-10 cm). Maximum recorded length of 5.9 inches (15 cm).

Animal Fact
The African butterflyfish is a powerful jumper and is known to jump out of the water to catch insects or to escape predators.

Diet / Feeding

Insectivore; diet consists of on terrestrial insects, aquatic larvae, nymphs of insects, crustaceans and fish.
Efficient ambush predator.
Known to eat terrestrial insects that fall to the surface of the water or are situated on low branches or leaves.
Powerful jumper. Known to jump out of the water to catch insects or to escape predators.
- Uses its large, broad caudal fin to propel itself out of the water.

Occurs in western, central and eastern Africa.
- Western and central Africa includes Nigeria, Lake Chad, Cameroon, Ogowe basin, Congo basin and upper Zambezi River.
- Eastern Africa includes the Ouémé River in Benin.
Inhabits the upper strata of open water in swamps, creeks, ponds and backwaters of streams and rivers with dense amounts of surface floating vegetation.

Oviparous; egg-laying species that are egg-scatterers.
- Eggs are opaque white and immediately rise to the water surface. After 24 hours, they turn dark and start to sink.
- Eggs take several days to hatch.
Spawning occurs after much chasing of the female by the male.
Spawning will precede over a period of several days in which typically over 100 eggs per day are released and fertilized.
No parental care for the fry.
When first born, the fry are not very mobile and are not good hunters but once they learn to find food, they grow quickly.

Also known as the “Freshwater Butterflyfish.”
The “butterfly” in its name comes from what it looks like from above; the widespread pectoral fins resemble butterfly wings.
- These butterfly-like pectoral fins help with camouflage, making the fish look like a dead leaf floating on the water’s surface.
Potamodromous; migrates within fresh water.
Top-dwelling species that swims just beneath the water’s surface.
Have sensors that detect small waves in the water caused by insects hitting the water’s surface.
Commonly rest with the top of the head and large pectoral fins touching the surface, while the long strands of pelvic fin hang down perpendicularly.
Ability to breathe atmospheric air.
Seek out floating structures, particularly plants, as they may harbor prey and can also serve as protection from birds.
Movements are usually slow and deliberate to avoid detection by predators or prey, but they do have the ability to move quickly when attacking prey.
Said to have survived, unchanged, for 100 million years giving them the nickname “living fossils.”
Often found individually or in a pair.
Harmless to humans.