Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Etymology: Chaetodon: Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Gray.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 43 m (Ref. 89972), usually 2 - 15 m (Ref. 1602). Tropical; 30°N - 28°S
Pacific Ocean: Ryukyus, Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands and Taiwan to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Pitcairn islands, south to the Samoan and Austral Islands; Marianas and Marshalls in Micronesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Found almost exclusively on exposed seaward reefs (Ref. 205). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed mainly on polyps of Pocillopora. Solitary or in pairs. Oviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Monogamous mating is observed as obligate, genetic and social (Ref. 52884).
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
