Spot-nape butterflyfish
A coral-feeding butterflyfish with a pointed snout and yellow-margined black back.
Last updated
Bernard E. Picton BernardP · via Wikipedia: Spot-nape butterflyfish · CC BY-SA 4.0
The spot-nape butterflyfish is a marine species in the family Chaetodontidae, order Acanthuriformes.[1]
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderAcanthuriformes
- FamilyChaetodontidae
- GenusChaetodon
- GenusChaetodon
- SpeciesChaetodon oxycephalus
Named by Bleeker, 1853
Close relatives
Other species of Chaetodon with a Codexery entry.
- Bluecheek butterflyfish Chaetodon semilarvatus
- Lined butterflyfish Chaetodon lineolatus
- Banded butterflyfish Chaetodon striatus
- Black butterflyfish Chaetodon flavirostris
- Blackback butterflyfish Chaetodon melannotus
- Blacktail butterflyfish Chaetodon austriacus
- Bluelashed butterflyfish Chaetodon bennetti
- Bluestripe butterflyfish Chaetodon fremblii
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Spot-nape butterflyfish (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 218725 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
- LC▲ this species
- NT
- VU
- EN
- CR
- EW
- EX
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
Where the spot-nape butterflyfish has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (233 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 7 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Chaetodon
- Parent
- Chaetodon (Rabdophorus)
- Species
- oxycephalus
Facts from the source article.
Biology and range
The spot-nape butterflyfish differs from the similar lined butterflyfish by having a large black spot on the forehead.[2] Whitish flanks are marked with narrow, vertical black lines.[2] The dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are predominantly yellow, with additional black and orange markings.[3] This species is typically found in coral-rich zones on coastal and seaward reefs, at depths ranging from 10 to 40 meters.[4][2]
Coral polyps and sea anemones make up the diet of this fish.[4]
What the specialist sources record
The Fishes of Australia account describes a whitish butterflyfish with narrow black vertical lines and a large oblique black blotch across the upper rear body.[2] That same source notes a broad black eye bar and bright yellow dorsal, anal and caudal fins.[2] The World Register of Marine Species lists the species as accepted within the family Chaetodontidae, order Acanthuriformes.[1] GBIF holds 267 occurrence records for this taxon as of October 2026.[5]
References
- World Register of Marine Species, Chaetodon oxycephalus (AphiaID 218725). CC BY 4.0. marinespecies.org
- Dianne J. Bray, "Chaetodon oxycephalus", Fishes of Australia. facts only, no text reused. fishesofaustralia.net.au
- Wikipedia, "Spot-nape butterflyfish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Dianne J. Bray, "Chaetodon oxycephalus", Fishes of Australia; Dianne J. Bray, "Chaetodon oxycephalus", Fishes of Australia (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Spot-nape butterflyfish" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence index, Chaetodon oxycephalus (taxon key 2385550). CC BY 4.0 (backbone); counts are facts. gbif.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Spot-nape butterflyfish (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Butterflyfish
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Spot-nape butterflyfish (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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