HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishLongnose butterflyfish Longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger longirostris) Scientific name: Forcipiger longirostris Broussonet, 1782 The Longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger longirostris) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. BiologyA generally uncommon species that inhabits seaward reefs to depths greater than 60 m. Benthopelagic. Feeds mainly on whole organisms such as small crustaceans. Usually seen in pairs. Oviparous, monogamous. Forms pairs during breeding. Sometimes dark brown instead of yellowSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameForcipiger longirostrisFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length22.0Depth range3–70 m (10–230 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 3 - 70 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Pitcairn islands, north to the Bonin [=Ogasawara] Islands, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands; 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 nematopteraPyramid butterflyfishHemitaurichthys polylepisLongnose butterfly fishForcipiger flavissimusThompson's butterflyfishHemitaurichthys thompsoniGoldengirdled coralfishCoradion chrysozonusVagabond butterflyfishChaetodon vagabundusSee 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