Oval butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus)

Scientific name: Chaetodon lunulatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1825

The Oval butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Pacific Ocean, widespread from Japan and Australia to the Tuamoto Islands and Hawaii. Replaced by Chaetodon trifasciatus in the Indian Ocean.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-22; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 21. Distinguished by grey caudal peduncle.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Chaetodon lunulatus
Family: Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 14.0
Depth range: 3–20 m (10–66 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 20 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Pacific Ocean: widespread from Japan and Australia to the Tuamoto Islands and Hawaii. Replaced by Chaetodon trifasciatus in the Indian Ocean.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026