---
title: Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae)
scientific_name: Chaetodontidae
common_name: Butterflyfishes
rank: Family
published: 2024-11-19T18:41:51.573Z
updated: 2026-08-03T20:49:49.618Z
tags: Butterflyfishes, Chaetodontidae, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes
---

# Butterflyfishes (*Chaetodontidae*)

## Quick facts

- **Rank:** Family
- **Scientific name:** Chaetodontidae
- **Body shape:** Disc - Round and flat as a plate, seen from the side - butterflyfishes, angelfishes.
- **Species listed here:** 15

## How to recognise this group

- deep, laterally compressed body
- small, brush-like mouth
- distinctive contrasting colour patterns

Butterflyfishes are small to medium-sized, laterally compressed fish, often disc-shaped, typically reaching 10 to 25 cm (4 to 10 in) in length. Most species display bright, contrasting colour patterns of yellow, white, black, and orange, often with dark vertical bands through the eye or an ocellus (eye-spot) near the tail.

These diurnal fish are common residents of shallow coral reefs, reef slopes, and outer drop-offs, generally observed from the surface down to 60 m (200 ft). They typically live in monogamous pairs or small groups, though some species are solitary. Their diet varies; many species feed on coral polyps, while others consume benthic invertebrates, small crustaceans, algae, or zooplankton. The family name Chaetodontidae, meaning 'bristle tooth', refers to their brush-like mouths, adapted for nipping small food items from reef structures.


## Species (15)

- [Arabian Butterflyfish (Chaetodon melapterus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/arabian-butterflyfish)
- [Blackback Butterflyfish (Chaetodon melannotus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/blackback-butterflyfish)
- [Bluecheek Butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/bluecheek-butterflyfish)
- [Chevron Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifascialis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/chevron-butterflyfish)
- [Crown Butterflyfish (Chaetodon paucifasciatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/crown-butterflyfish)
- [Diagonal Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/diagonal-butterflyfish)
- [Exquisite Butterflyfish (Chaetodon austriacus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/exquisite-butterflyfish)
- [Lined Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lineolatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/lined-butterflyfish)
- [Orangeface Butterflyfish (Chaetodon larvatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/orangeface-butterflyfish)
- [Paleface Butterflyfish (Chaetodon mesoleucos)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/paleface-butterflyfish)
- [Red Sea Bannerfish (Heniochus intermedius)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/red-sea-bannerfish)
- [Schooling bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/schooling-bannerfish)
- [Somali Butterflyfish (Chaetodon leucopleura)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/somali-butterflyfish)
- [Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/threadfin-butterflyfish)
- [Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes/yellow-longnose-butterflyfish)

---

*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/butterflyfishes)*
*Updated: August 3, 2026*