HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishBrown-and-white butterflyfish Brown-and-white butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys zoster) Scientific name: Hemitaurichthys zoster Bennett, 1831 The Brown-and-white butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys zoster) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Indian Ocean, East Africa to Guam, north to India, south to Mauritius. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 21. Readily identified by the black body with a broad white band and white tail.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameHemitaurichthys zosterFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length18.0Depth range1 m (3 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - ? mClimateTropicalDistributionIndian Ocean: East Africa to Guam, north to India, south to Mauritius.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 nematopteraYellowhead butterflyfishChaetodon xanthocephalusSeychelles butterflyfishChaetodon madagaskariensisPeppered butterflyfishChaetodon guttatissimusRedtail butterflyfishChaetodon collareTriangle butterflyfishChaetodon triangulumSee 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