The Butterflyfishes: Success on the Coral Reef

About this book

The chaetodontid butterflyfishes are conspicuous, well-studied inhabitants of tropical reefs and, as such, their study has advanced our understanding of the reef ecosystem. Whereas previous studies have mostly centered on their behavior and ecology, this symposium volume addresses some of the most interesting questions of reef fish biology by focusing on the biology of this family. Rather than a reiteration of past work, the book presents the latest research in feeding and social behavior, larval recruitment and distribution, biogeography and distribution, systematics and evolution, coloration, reproduction and anatomy. From regional distributions to worldwide patterns, the authors relate studies on this family to other reef fishes, and each makes suggestions for future studies. The symposium organizer and editor Philip Motta summarizes the works of these seventeen international participants by pointing out the areas of strength and weakness in the understanding of the group and direction for future studies is given.

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