HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishSpeckled butterflyfish Speckled butterflyfish (Chaetodon citrinellus) Scientific name: Chaetodon citrinellus Cuvier, 1831 The Speckled butterflyfish (Chaetodon citrinellus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-22; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 16 - 17. Pale yellow with numerous small dark spots. Black bar over head and black margin on anal fin.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon citrinellusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length13.0Depth range1–36 m (3–118 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 36 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, south to New South Wales (Australia) and Lord Howe Island.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraSaddle butterflyfishChaetodon ephippiumBurgess' butterflyfishChaetodon burgessiBluelashed butterflyfishChaetodon bennettiYellow-crowned butterflyfishChaetodon flavocoronatusLined butterflyfishChaetodon lineolatusSee 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