Butis butis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	ELEOTRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Butis butis

Species Authority:

(Hamilton, 1822)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Crazy Fish, Crimson-tipped Flathead Gudgeon, Crimson-tipped Flathead-sleeper, Crimson-tipped Gudgeon, Duckbill Sleeper, Flat-headed Gudgeon, Pointed Head Gudgeon, Upside Down Sleeper

Synonym/s:

Cheilodipterus butis Hamilton, 1822

Eleotris butis (Hamilton, 1822)

Elestris butis (Hamilton, 1822)

Taxonomic Notes:

This species is often confused with Butis amboinensis.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

Larson, H.

Reviewer/s:

Hoese, D. & Keith, P.

Contributor/s:

Smith, J., Wilson, P., Lintott, P., Lewis, S., Lutz, M.L., Milligan, HT, De Silva, R., Batchelor, A., Kemp, K., Jopling, B., Sears, J., Livingston, F., Collen, B., Carpenter, K.E., Elfes, C., Polidoro, B. & Richman, N.

Justification:
The species has been assessed as Least Concern; it is usually common and is found throughout a large range. There are potential localized threats throughout its range (e.g. for the aquarium trade), however these are not thought to be detrimental to the global population. Further research into population and harvest yields are recommended.

History:

2010

–

Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species has a wide geographic range from east Africa, Seychelles, western Mascarenes including Madagascar and the Comoros in the Indian Ocean (Keith et al. 2006); across to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (Rahman 1989); north to the South China Sea; south through the Indo-West Pacific region to Australia and New Caledonia (Allen et al. 2002) and as far east as Fiji (Ryan 1981).
Countries:	Native: Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia); Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan); Fiji; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Japan; Kenya; Macao; Madagascar; Malaysia; Mauritius (Mauritius (main island), Rodrigues); Mozambique; Myanmar; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Somalia; Sri Lanka; Taiwan, Province of China; Tanzania, United Republic of; Thailand; Vanuatu; Viet Nam
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Indian Ocean – eastern; Indian Ocean – western; Pacific – northwest; Pacific – western central
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There is no specific population information available for this species, however, it is usually abundant and common throughout its range.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This tropical species is found in coastal marine to brackish habitats, mangroves and in the lower reaches of freshwater streams, usually on mud bottoms (Allen et al. 2002). It is usually found in lagoons, estuaries, and mangrove swamps, particularly where there is vegetation. Occasionally this species ascends rivers. In Viet Nam this species lives in downstream rivers, estuaries and lagoons of Gulf of Tonkin. It is an ambush hunter, feeding mainly on small fishes and crustaceans and is famous for using sticks and floating leaves as stalking-horses.
Systems:	Freshwater; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

This tropical species is found in coastal marine to brackish habitats, mangroves and in the lower reaches of freshwater streams, usually on mud bottoms (Allen et al. 2002). It is usually found in lagoons, estuaries, and mangrove swamps, particularly where there is vegetation. Occasionally this species ascends rivers. In Viet Nam this species lives in downstream rivers, estuaries and lagoons of Gulf of Tonkin. It is an ambush hunter, feeding mainly on small fishes and crustaceans and is famous for using sticks and floating leaves as stalking-horses.

Systems:

Freshwater; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats currently known. However, any threats to coastal rivers and estuaries, such as destruction of mangroves or coastal developments, could affect this species. Although it is found in the aquarium trade, demand appears to be low and it is unlikely that this is a major threat to the species.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats currently known. However, any threats to coastal rivers and estuaries, such as destruction of mangroves or coastal developments, could affect this species. Although it is found in the aquarium trade, demand appears to be low and it is unlikely that this is a major threat to the species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for this species, although it does occur within a number of marine protected areas. Further research on local and global populations, and monitoring of harvest levels, is recommended.

Conservation Actions:

There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for this species, although it does occur within a number of marine protected areas.
Further research on local and global populations, and monitoring of harvest levels, is recommended.

Citation:	Larson, H. 2012. Butis butis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2013.
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