HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishLined butterflyfish Lined butterflyfish (Chaetodon lineolatus) Scientific name: Chaetodon lineolatus Cuvier, 1831 The Lined butterflyfish (Chaetodon lineolatus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-27; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 19 - 22. The dorsal caudal and anal fins are bright yellow. Body color is white with a black elliptical marking along the edge of the posterior portion of the back extending across the caudal peduncle to the base of the posterior anal fin rays. A series of thin vertical black lines run across the sides, and a prominent vertical black band runs across the eye.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon lineolatusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length30.0Depth range2–171 m (7–561 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 171 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef and Lord Howe Island. Throughout Micronesia.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 nematopteraYellow-crowned butterflyfishChaetodon flavocoronatusRaccoon butterflyfishChaetodon lunulaBlackback butterflyfishChaetodon melannotusSaddle butterflyfishChaetodon ephippiumAtoll butterflyfishChaetodon mertensiiSee 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