| Even though Mozambique has the greatest reported diversity of butterflyfishes (24 species) of the continental states of the Western Indian Ocean region, aspects of the ecology and distribution of this group in Mozambique are poorly documented. The distribution, diversity and community structure of butterflyfishes were studied on nine reefs in southern Mozambique using the point count method. Nineteen species from four genera were identified. Three with generalist feeding habits (i.e. Chaetodon auriga, C. guttatissimus and C. interruptus) were the most abundant with a wide distribution range. The butterflyfish communities of intertidal reefs at Inhaca Island differed from those of the offshore, subtidal reefs, as shown by uni- and multivariate analysis of... |
