HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishBlack-spotted butterflyfish Black-spotted butterflyfish (Chaetodon nigropunctatus) Scientific name: Chaetodon nigropunctatus Sauvage, 1880 The Black-spotted butterflyfish (Chaetodon nigropunctatus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula south to tropical East Africa. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-23; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 20Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon nigropunctatusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length14.0Depth range3–15 m (10–49 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 15 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Indian Ocean: Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula south to tropical East Africa.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 nematopteraGardner's butterflyfishChaetodon gardineriSaint Helena butterflyfishChaetodon sanctaehelenaeArabian butterflyfishChaetodon melapterusTahiti butterflyfishChaetodon trichrousJapanese butterflyfishChaetodon nipponSee 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