HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishSpot-tail butterflyfish Spot-tail butterflyfish (Chaetodon ocellicaudus) Scientific name: Chaetodon ocellicaudus Cuvier, 1831 The Spot-tail butterflyfish (Chaetodon ocellicaudus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Western Central Pacific, Malaysia to New Guinea, north to the Philippines; Palau (Belau) in Micronesia. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-20; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 17 - 18. Nearly identical to C. melanotus, differing only in the shape of the black mark on the caudal peduncle, in lacking a black mark on the chest, and in having 14 rather than 15 modal pectoral fin rays.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon ocellicaudusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length15.0Depth range3–15 m (10–49 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 15 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Central Pacific: Malaysia to New Guinea, north to the Philippines; Palau (Belau) in Micronesia.Conservation status (IUCN)Data deficient (DD)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraScrawled butterflyfishChaetodon meyeriAtoll butterflyfishChaetodon mertensiiBlackback butterflyfishChaetodon melannotusEightband butterflyfishChaetodon octofasciatusRaccoon butterflyfishChaetodon lunulaSee 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