Copperband Butterflyfish

If you see a large eye peeking out at you from the waters, it may be the copperband butterflyfish! This charming fish has a false eye spot near the back of its body, which is much larger than the true eyes on its head. This tricks predators into believing its fin is its head, allowing the copperband butterflyfish to make a quick escape if attacked. It can also fool smaller predators into thinking it is bigger than it actually is, discouraging them from taking a bite!

Due to its beauty, the copperband butterflyfish is popular as an ornamental fish in the aquarium trade. Thankfully, this elegant fish is currently not yet threatened by overharvesting.