Home · Chaetodontidae · Butterflyfish
Butterflyfish (Chaetodon wiebeli) — Chaetodontidae

Butterflyfish

Chaetodon wiebeli
LC · Least Concern

The Butterflyfish (Chaetodon wiebeli) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
19 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
4.0–25.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The Hong Kong butterflyfish is a butterflyfish from the northwest Pacific, off China, Taiwan and Japan. The species grows to about 19 cm and has a yellow body with fine oblique lines, a black head cap with a white band and a yellow tail with a dark band. As a reef-dweller it searches over rocky and coral reefs for small invertebrates, polyps and algae. The fish is harmless to humans and appears in the reef aquarium. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Butterflyfish?

The Butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Butterflyfish live?

The Butterflyfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Butterflyfish get?

The Butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Butterflyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Butterflyfish edible?

The Butterflyfish is not usually eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Hongkong-koraalvlinder verified
English name
Butterflyfish verified
Scientific name
Chaetodon wiebeli
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Hong Kong Butterflyfish; Hongkong butterflyfish; Panda butterflyfish; Wiebel's butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
19.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
4.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Chaetodon

More from the family Chaetodontidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →