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Some of the most beautiful are the Butterflyfish of the family Chaetodontidae. They are aptly named because they are the butterflies of the reef; colourful and flitting.

Butterflyfish
Butterflyfish
They usually have much more elongated 'snouts' than the similar 'angelfish'. Many have stripes or colours through the face that camouflage the eye, and have instead a spot that acts as a false 'eye', often in the middle or near the other end of the fish. This has long been though to fool predators that aim for their head. The many different butterfly fish have many different diets; some are well known for feeding on coral polyps themselves, while others are planktivores. Many butterfly fish are observed swimming around in mated pairs; these bonds may last for years. This fish illustrated here is a 'Black-saddled Butterflyfish', Chaetodon ephippium.
 
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Study Tours

  • Activity Tour of Tropical Australia

    This trip has been designed for more general interest and younger student groups. It visits a range of iconic regions, from the Great Barrier Reef, to the rainforests and rivers of the Daintree, to the caves and bush of the outback, and to the mountains, lakes and waterfalls of the Atherton Tablelands. We conduct a range of activities within the trip including hikes, ‘bushwalks', boat cruises, snorkeling to wildlife viewing and night-spotlighting. We see tropical rainforest, coal reefs, kangaroos, shops and beaches. With sufficient lead time, the trip can have it's focus and design changed to suit the…

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Rail
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