HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishChevron butterflyfish Chevron butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifascialis) Scientific name: Chaetodon trifascialis Quoy & Gaimard, 1825 The Chevron butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifascialis) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Society islands. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 13 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3 - 5; Anal soft rays: 13 - 15. Body elongate; color is generally white with narrow chevron markings. Juveniles have a mostly yellow tail and a broad black band extending from the rear of the dorsal fin to the rear of the anal fin. Tail pattern and posterior part of body changes dramatically with growth.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon trifascialisFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length18.0Depth range2–30 m (7–98 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 30 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Society islands.Conservation status (IUCN)Near Threatened (NT)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.5) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraHawaiian butterflyfishChaetodon tinkeriMelon butterflyfishChaetodon trifasciatusMirror butterflyfishChaetodon speculumPacific double-saddle butterflyfishChaetodon ulietensisTeardrop butterflyfishChaetodon unimaculatusSee 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