Vagabond butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)

Scientific name: Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758

The Vagabond butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-25; Anal spines: 2 - 3; Anal soft rays: 19 - 22. Black bands over head and tail.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Scientific name: Chaetodon vagabundus
Family: Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 23.0
Common length: 15.0
Depth range: 5–30 m (16–98 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 5 - 30 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Lord Howe and the Austral islands. Closely related to Chaetodon decussatus.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026