HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishPearlscale butterflyfish Pearlscale butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus) Scientific name: Chaetodon xanthurus Bleeker, 1857 The Pearlscale butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Western Pacific, Indonesia and the Philippines, north to the Ryukyu Islands. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-23; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 - 17. Posterior part of body and tail orange-yellow. Body pearly white; scales have black edges, giving the sides a reticulated pattern.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon xanthurusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length14.0Depth range6–50 m (20–164 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 6 - 50 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Pacific: Indonesia and the Philippines, north to the Ryukyu Islands.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 nematopteraEmperor angelfishPomacanthus imperatorBlacktail butterflyfishChaetodon austriacusPhilippine butterflyfishChaetodon adiergastosThreespot angelfishApolemichthys trimaculatusBlack butterflyfishChaetodon flavirostrisSee 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