HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishBlackwedged butterflyfish Blackwedged butterflyfish (Chaetodon falcula) Scientific name: Chaetodon falcula Bloch, 1795 The Blackwedged butterflyfish (Chaetodon falcula) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Indian Ocean, East Africa south to 27?S and east to Indonesia. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-25; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 21. Distinctly marked with bright yellow and orange over the back and tail. Two well-defined black saddles on the back.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon falculaFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0Depth range1–15 m (3–49 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 15 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndian Ocean: East Africa south to 27?S and east to Indonesia.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 nematopteraBrownburnieChaetodon blackburniiSomali butterflyfishChaetodon leucopleuraYellowbar angelfishPomacanthus maculosusBluering angelfishPomacanthus annularisSixspine butterflyfishParachaetodon ocellatusSee 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