HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishLongsnout butterflyfish Longsnout butterflyfish (Prognathodes aculeatus) Scientific name: Prognathodes aculeatus Poey, 1860 The Longsnout butterflyfish (Prognathodes aculeatus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, southern Florida and the western Gulf of Mexico to the West Indies-Caribbean region and Venezuela. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-19; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 14 - 16. Upper half of body yellow-orange, shading into blackish basally in dorsal fin; lower half of body white; orange bands on head and a narrow orange bar on caudal peduncle.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific namePrognathodes aculeatusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length10.0Depth range1–90 m (3–295 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 90 m, usually 12 - 90 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Atlantic: southern Florida and the western Gulf of Mexico to the West Indies-Caribbean region and Venezuela.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 nematopteraBank butterflyfishPrognathodes ayaFoureye butterflyfishChaetodon capistratusScythemarked butterflyfishPrognathodes falciferSpotfin butterflyfishChaetodon ocellatusReef butterflyfishChaetodon sedentariusSee 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