HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishFalse moorish idol False moorish idol (Heniochus diphreutes) Scientific name: Heniochus diphreutes Jordan, 1903 The False moorish idol (Heniochus diphreutes) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea and South Africa to warm-temperate Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-25; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 17 - 19. Body is white with two broad oblique dark-brown bands running across the body from the dorsal fin to the abdomen and anal fin. A short brown band runs from the top of the head to the eye. The soft portion of the dorsal fin and the caudal fin are yellow.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameHeniochus diphreutesFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length21.0Depth range15–210 m (49–689 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 15 - 210 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa to warm-temperate Australia and the Hawaiian Islands.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 nematopteraPeppered butterflyfishChaetodon guttatissimusSeychelles butterflyfishChaetodon madagaskariensisYellowhead butterflyfishChaetodon xanthocephalusBrown-and-white butterflyfishHemitaurichthys zosterRedtail butterflyfishChaetodon collareSee 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