The locally rare Chaetodon meyeri apparently hybridizes easily with the abundant Chaetodon reticulatus, forming hybrids that we see more often than full-blooded C. meyeri. The two parents certainly do not look much alike, but perhaps they smell the same. In the photos, you can clearly see the diagonal lines of C. meyeri overlaying a faded reticulated pattern characteristic of C. reticulatus. The hybrids are usually found paired up with normal C. reticulatus, but we do not know whether they are fertile. Like their parents, these fish appear to feed only on live coral.
Created 15 October 2010
Updated 1 March 2015