HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishBlack butterflyfish Black butterflyfish (Chaetodon flavirostris) Scientific name: Chaetodon flavirostris G?nther, 1874 The Black butterflyfish (Chaetodon flavirostris) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Pacific Ocean, Australia to Pitcairn. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-27; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 21. Overall color is blackish with broad rim of yellow on dorsal caudal and anal fins. The snout is yellow with white tips. A black bump is on the forehead.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon flavirostrisFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0Depth range2–20 m (7–66 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 20 mClimateTropicalDistributionPacific Ocean: Australia to Pitcairn.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraCrochet butterflyfishChaetodon guentheriThreespot angelfishApolemichthys trimaculatusPhilippine butterflyfishChaetodon adiergastosBlacktail butterflyfishChaetodon austriacusPearlscale butterflyfishChaetodon xanthurusSee 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