HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishRedtail butterflyfish Redtail butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare) Scientific name: Chaetodon collare Bloch, 1787 The Redtail butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Indo-West Pacific, Persian Gulf and Maldives to Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-28; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 22. Recognized by the red on the tail that is green in juvenile C. auripes.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon collareFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length18.0Depth range3–15 m (10–49 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 15 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf and Maldives to Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.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 nematopteraTriangle butterflyfishChaetodon triangulumBluestriped butterflyfishChaetodon frembliiPebbled butterflyfishChaetodon multicinctusBanded angelfishApolemichthys arcuatusBrown-and-white butterflyfishHemitaurichthys zosterSee 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