HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishYellow-dotted butterflyfish Yellow-dotted butterflyfish (Chaetodon selene) Scientific name: Chaetodon selene Bleeker, 1853 The Yellow-dotted butterflyfish (Chaetodon selene) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Western Pacific, a poorly known species which has been recorded from West New Guinea, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, and Japan. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-22; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 19. Series of yellow dots, running at diagonal lines over the sides. A black band extending from caudal peduncle along bases of dorsal and anal fins.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon seleneFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length16.0Depth range8–50 m (26–164 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 8 - 50 m, usually 20 - 50 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Pacific: a poorly known species which has been recorded from West New Guinea, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, and Japan.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 nematopteraThree-striped butterflyfishChaetodon tricinctusRainford's butterflyfishChaetodon rainfordiMidnight angelfishCentropyge noxOriental butterflyfishChaetodon auripesMargined coralfishChelmon marginalisSee 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