Andaman butterflyfish (Chaetodon andamanensis)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Chaetodon andamanensis, commonly known as the Andaman butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is native to the Indian Ocean.
- Scientific name
- Chaetodon andamanensis
- Authority
- Kuiter & Debelius, 1999
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Order
- Acanthuriformes
- Maximum length
- 15 cm
- Depth range
- 10–40 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Data Deficient
- Gbif occurrence records
- 110
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Chaetodontidae · Genus: Chaetodon.
Accepted name: Chaetodon andamanensis · Authority: Kuiter & Debelius, 1999 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273323.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273323 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Chaetodon andamanensis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 15 cm · Depth range: 10–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
FishBase notes: Found in rock or coral reef habitats near the shore or on outer slopes. May be solitary but more usually seen in pairs or small groups (Ref. 90102, 48636). Feed mainly on coral polyps (Ref. 48636). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 58164) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-andamanensis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
110 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodon andamanensis are published through GBIF from 5 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 26 distinct locations from a sample of 110 records, omitting 1 inland record that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Thailand (77); India (14); Maldives (12); Sri Lanka (5); Indonesia (2).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385541) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385541&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273323 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Chaetodon andamanensis Kuiter & Debelius, 1999 as Data Deficient (code DD). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 165707) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165707/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385541) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385541/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Chaetodon andamanensis is an overall bright yellow colour apart from a black band which runs from the top of the head and through the eyes, and a black ocellus on the caudal peduncle. The dorsal fin contains 1:4 spines and 18 soft rays while the anal fin has 4 spines and 16–18 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 15 cm}.
Chaetodon andamanensis is found in the eastern Indian Ocean where it has been recorded from Sri Lanka, southwestern India, the Andaman Islands, the Nicobar Islands, the Maldives; the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar, the Similan Islands of Thailand and Weh Island off northwestern Sumatra in Indonesia.
Chaetodon andamanensis is found in rock or coral reef habitats close to the shoreline or on the outer slopes. They can be solitary but are typically encountered in pairs or small aggregations. Their diet is mostly coral polyps. It is an oviparous species which forms pairs for breeding. it is thought that this species is a slow breeding fish which must have live branching coral to reproduce. They are found at depths between 1 and 10 m.
Chaetodon andamanensis was first formally described in 1999 by Rudie Kuiter and Helmut Debelius with the type locality given as Great Nicobar. Many authorities consider the Andaman butterflyfish a local colour morph of Chaetodon plebeius.
Like the other butterflyfishes with angular yellow bodies with black eyestripes and a single differently-colored patch, it belongs in the subgenus Tetrachaetodon. Among this group it seems to be the most basal living species. If Chaetodon is split up, this subgenus would be placed in Megaprotodon.
Source: Wikipedia: Chaetodon andamanensis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetodon_andamanensis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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