HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishEaster Island butterflyfish Easter Island butterflyfish (Chaetodon litus) Scientific name: Chaetodon litus Randall & Caldwell, 1973 The Easter Island butterflyfish (Chaetodon litus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Southeast Pacific, apparently endemic to Easter Island. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-25; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 19 - 20Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon litusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length15.0Depth range1–25 m (3–82 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 25 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionSoutheast Pacific: apparently endemic to Easter Island.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 nematopteraTahiti butterflyfishChaetodon trichrousSaint Helena butterflyfishChaetodon sanctaehelenaeBlack-spotted butterflyfishChaetodon nigropunctatusGardner's butterflyfishChaetodon gardineriArabian butterflyfishChaetodon melapterusSee 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