HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishSeychelles butterflyfish Seychelles butterflyfish (Chaetodon madagaskariensis) Scientific name: Chaetodon madagaskariensis Ahl, 1923 The Seychelles butterflyfish (Chaetodon madagaskariensis) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Indian Ocean, East Africa, including Port Elizabeth, South Africa to the Cocos-Keeling and Christmas islands, north to Sri Lanka. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-20; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 - 17. Easily identified by the orange markings and 5-6 chevron shaped lines on the body.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon madagaskariensisFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length13.0Depth range10–40 m (33–131 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 40 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndian Ocean: East Africa, including Port Elizabeth, South Africa to the Cocos-Keeling and Christmas islands, north to Sri Lanka.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 nematopteraYellowhead butterflyfishChaetodon xanthocephalusPeppered butterflyfishChaetodon guttatissimusBrown-and-white butterflyfishHemitaurichthys zosterRedtail butterflyfishChaetodon collareTriangle butterflyfishChaetodon triangulumSee 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