HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishTeardrop butterflyfish Teardrop butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus) Scientific name: Chaetodon unimaculatus Bloch, 1787 The Teardrop butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-23; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 20. Easily identified by the color pattern of yellow, white and black. Caudal fin is transparent. Juveniles are virtually identical to adults in coloration.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon unimaculatusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0Common length16.0Depth range1–60 m (3–197 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 60 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: East Africa (south to Port Alfred, South Africa, ) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Lord Howe and Rapa islands; throughout Micronesia.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 nematopteraPacific double-saddle butterflyfishChaetodon ulietensisVagabond butterflyfishChaetodon vagabundusMelon butterflyfishChaetodon trifasciatusChevron butterflyfishChaetodon trifascialisGoldengirdled coralfishCoradion chrysozonusSee 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