The Oval Butterflyfish is a fairly common sight on the healthier reefs of Maui, especially South Maui. They are most often seen in pairs, but it is not unusual to see up to 10 individuals chasing one another and darting in and out of coral heads. Juveniles are occasionally seen in lagoons and shallow reefs. Oval Butterflyfish are dependent on coral for food and their numbers have declined significantly in areas where there has been coral loss and bleaching. The IUCN Red List still lists it as a species of “least concern” despite falling populations on the Great Barrier Reef and French Polynesia.
