HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishBlueblotch butterflyfish Blueblotch butterflyfish (Chaetodon plebeius) Scientific name: Chaetodon plebeius Cuvier, 1831 The Blueblotch butterflyfish (Chaetodon plebeius) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Western Pacific, Andaman Sea to Fiji, north to Japan, south to Australia. Recently reported from Tonga. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 13 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal spines: 4 - 5; Anal soft rays: 36 - 41. Body is yellow with narrow dark stripes on the sides. There is an elongate blue blotch on the upper sides and a white-edged black spot on the caudal peduncle. A white-edged black bar runs vertically on the head across the eye.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon plebeiusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length15.0Depth range10 m (33 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 10 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Pacific: Andaman Sea to Fiji, north to Japan, south to Australia. Recently reported from Tonga.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraBlackstriped angelfishGenicanthus lamarckSunset butterflyfishChaetodon pelewensisRainford's butterflyfishChaetodon rainfordiYellow-dotted butterflyfishChaetodon seleneThree-striped butterflyfishChaetodon tricinctusSee 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