The Forceps Butterflyfish is a fairly common sight on the reefs off Maui, though chances of seeing are far greater at Ahihi Kina’u. They seem to prefer ledges and caves and exposed reefs. Snorkelers will often see them hanging upside down beneath cliffs and sweeping over reef edges, sometimes in fairly strong surge. They feed on a wide variety of animal prey including hydroids, fish eggs, and small crustaceans, but prefer tube feet of echinoderms, pedicilaria of sea urchins, and polychaete tentacles (Myers 1991 in IUCN Red List). Up to 8 inches. This fish is not to be mistaken for the Longnose Butterflyfish that is found primarily on Hawaii Island: Forcipiger longirostris.
