HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishOrnate butterflyfish Ornate butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) Scientific name: Chaetodon ornatissimus Cuvier, 1831 The Ornate butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, Sri Lanka to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands; throughout Micronesia. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-28; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 23. Body is white with orange to orange-brown oblique bands on the sides. Two broad yellow-edged black bars are on the head; one running across the eye and another on the snout.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon ornatissimusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0Depth range1–36 m (3–118 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 36 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Sri Lanka to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa 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 nematopteraDusky angelfishCentropyge multispinisKeyhole angelfishCentropyge tibicenSixbar angelfishPomacanthus sexstriatusRegal angelfishPygoplites diacanthusCrochet butterflyfishChaetodon guentheriSee 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