Foureye Butterflyfish in Cozumel
Foureye Butterflyfish (*Chaetodon capistratus*) in Cozumel: how to identify it, where it is reliably seen, and what it is commonly confused with.
A pale disc with fine dark chevrons and one large dark eyespot ringed in white near the tail — plus a dark bar through the real eye. The false eye is the whole point of the name.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Chaetodon capistratus |
|---|---|
| Group | Colourful Reef Fish |
| Typical size | 10–15 cm |
| Depth range | 2–20 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Daytime |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Notes | — |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Shallow coral across Paradise Reef, Chankanaab and Villa Blanca, almost always in pairs.
Reliable sites: Paradise Reef, Chankanaab Reef, Villa Blanca Wall.
Behaviour
Pairs for life and feeds on coral polyps and small invertebrates. The rear eyespot and the masked real eye are a matched pair of tricks: a predator aims at the wrong end and the fish escapes forwards.
Commonly Confused With
- Banded butterflyfish — Banded butterflyfish has bold black vertical bands and no rear eyespot.
- Spotfin butterflyfish — Spotfin is plainer with a small dark spot on the trailing dorsal fin.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Nothing required.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
