April Bubble Painting

The original painting for the April edition of the Bubble Post. 

This painting is inspired by the Copperband Butterflyfish and the Coral Reef.

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The Copperband Butterflyfish is a gorgeous reef fish with distinct features that set them apart from other reef dwellers. The species gained popularity in European scientific circles not just for its beauty, but for its representation of the incredible diversity that tropical reefs contained.

Readily identifiable by its distinctive coloration and long snout.

Its body is silvery-white with three vertical, orange to copper-colored bars and a narrower bar on the head that passes through the eye. The coloration pattern is both beautiful and functional. The white background color provides contrast that helps it blend in with the filtered sunlight that penetrates the reef's depths. One of the coolest features of this fish is the “false eye” spot located on the dorsal fin. This spot is often more prominent than the fish's actual eye. It creates a classic case of misdirection. Predators will find themselves snapping at the tail end of the fish as it swims rapidly in the opposite direction. 

While most butterflyfish possess relatively short, rounded snouts suitable for picking at coral polyps and small organisms, the Copperband Butterflyfish have evolved to have a long snout. Their compressed body shape and elongated snout allows them to probe deep into crevices and reach prey items that other fish cannot access, like worms and small crabs. It can comprise up to 25% of the fish's total body length.

These fish can be found in coral reefs stretching across the tropical Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea East African coast all the way to the Great Barrier Reef north to the islands of Japan. With a life span of around 10 years, they are seen alone or in pairs. Copperband Butterflyfish form monogamous pairs during breeding and establish strong bonds that can last for years. They represent one of the more stable partnerships found among reef fish. 

Such symbolically and physically beautiful fish, I hope I did it justice in this painting!

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12 in. x 8 in.

Frame not included. 

Only 1 Available.

Painting shipped through USPS.