Pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis)

Scientific name: Hemitaurichthys polylepis Bleeker, 1857

The Pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 19 - 21. Readily identified by unusual coloration.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Scientific name: Hemitaurichthys polylepis
Family: Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 18.0
Depth range: 3–40 m (10–131 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 40 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to Indonesia and the Hawaiian, Line, and Pitcairn islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals and New Caledonia. Replaced by Hemitaurichthys zoster in the Indian Ocean.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

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

Last updated 27 September 2026