HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishYellowhead butterflyfish Yellowhead butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthocephalus) Scientific name: Chaetodon xanthocephalus Bennett, 1833 The Yellowhead butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthocephalus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, East Africa to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 21 - 23Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon xanthocephalusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0Depth range1–30 m (3–98 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Indian Ocean: East Africa to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.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 nematopteraSeychelles butterflyfishChaetodon madagaskariensisBrown-and-white butterflyfishHemitaurichthys zosterPeppered butterflyfishChaetodon guttatissimusRedtail butterflyfishChaetodon collareTriangle butterflyfishChaetodon triangulumSee 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