HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishThreebanded butterflyfish Threebanded butterflyfish (Chaetodon humeralis) Scientific name: Chaetodon humeralis G?nther, 1860 The Threebanded butterflyfish (Chaetodon humeralis) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, San Diego, California, USA to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-20; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 - 17. Body deep, compressed, and disk-shaped; profile of head very steep and slightly concave; snout pronounced; teeth very small, setiform, and set in a comb-like band; base of pelvic spine with an axillary process; lateral line ending under last rays of dorsal fin; body creamy yellow with 5 or 6 dark vertical bars on the head, body and tail.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon humeralisFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length25.4Common length12.0Depth range3–50 m (10–164 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 50 m, usually 3 - 12 mClimateTropicalDistributionEastern Pacific: San Diego, California, USA to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands.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 nematopteraKing angelfishHolacanthus passerCortez angelfishPomacanthus zonipectusSomali butterflyfishChaetodon leucopleuraBrownburnieChaetodon blackburniiBlackwedged butterflyfishChaetodon falculaSee 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