HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishSomali butterflyfish Somali butterflyfish (Chaetodon leucopleura) Scientific name: Chaetodon leucopleura Playfair, 1867 The Somali butterflyfish (Chaetodon leucopleura) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Farsan Archipelago of the southern Red Sea and East Africa south to Zanzibar in Tanzania; including the Aldabra Islands and Seychelles. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-23; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 19Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon leucopleuraFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length18.0Depth range7–75 m (23–246 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 7 - 75 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Indian Ocean: Farsan Archipelago of the southern Red Sea and East Africa south to Zanzibar in Tanzania; including the Aldabra Islands and Seychelles.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraBrownburnieChaetodon blackburniiBlackwedged butterflyfishChaetodon falculaYellowbar angelfishPomacanthus maculosusBluering angelfishPomacanthus annularisSixspine butterflyfishParachaetodon ocellatusSee 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