The ornate butterflyfish

ornate butterflyfish

Scientific name	Chaetodon ornatissimus
Descriptor	Cuvier
Year of description	1831
IUCN category (World)	LC
Family	Chaetodontidae
Genus	Chaetodon

Introduction

Chaetodon ornatissimus, commonly known as ornate butterflyfish, is a salt water fish.

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Who is it?

Morphology

Average size

18 cm
Maximum size

20 cm
Shape

Circular
Pattern

diagonal stripes

Chaetodon ornatissimus - ornate butterflyfish — Chaetodon ornatissimus, ornate butterflyfish © Théo Guillaume

Average size

18 cm
Maximum size

20 cm
Shape

Circular
Pattern

diagonal stripes

How to recognize the ornate butterflyfish ?

The ornate butterflyfish measures between 18 and 20 cm. This fish is multicolore with a predominantly jaune, orange, noir and blanc body. The also has orange diagonal stripes.

Behaviour & Life cycle

diet

corallivore
Sociability

living as a couple
territorial

No
Way of living

diurnal

The ornate butterflyfish is a fish living as a couple naturally found near the bottom. This species is corallivore .

n general, this species does not care much about other animals crossing its path. However, she may show some signs of aggression with conspecifics.

Reproduction

Reproduction

ovipare

The ornate butterflyfish is a fish ovipare.

Harmless species

This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.

Where to find it?

Origin

Great Barrier Reef Philippine Sea Sea of Japan South East Asian Seas Indonesian seas Western Tropical Pacific Ocean

islands

Bali Nusa Penida French Polynesia

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

World : LC

Where to see this species?

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

Temperature

24 - 29 °C
Depth

1 - 36 m
Flow

Medium

Biotope presentation

The ornate butterflyfish is most often found at a depth between 1m and 36m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths.

Species of the same biotope

black long-nosed butterflyfish Chaetodontidae

false skunk striped anemonefish Pomacentridae

dot-and-dash butterflyfish Chaetodontidae

To go further

Species of the same family

brown-and-white butterflyfish Chaetodontidae

To read on the web

Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Adrien Falzon

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.