HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishAfrican butterflyfish African butterflyfish (Chaetodon dolosus) Scientific name: Chaetodon dolosus Ahl, 1923 The African butterflyfish (Chaetodon dolosus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Somalia south to Natal, South Africa and east to Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Reunion. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-22; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 19. Rear part of body, dorsal and anal fins blackish; caudal fin yellow; dorsal and anal fin edges white; dark eyeband connected at nape. Juveniles pale olive green with vertical rows of small brownish spots; middle of soft dorsal rays with black blotch.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon dolosusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length15.0Depth range40–200 m (131–656 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 40 - 200 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Indian Ocean: Somalia south to Natal, South Africa and east to Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Reunion.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraZanzibar butterflyfishChaetodon zanzibarensisCocos-Keeling angelfishCentropyge coliniBlackedged angelfishGenicanthus watanabeiSpotbreast angelfishGenicanthus melanospilosOrangeback angelfishCentropyge acanthopsSee all angelfish & butterflyfish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026