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.
Last updated
BEDO (Thailand) · via Wikipedia: Chaetodon andamanensis · CC BY-SA 4.0
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 classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderAcanthuriformes
- FamilyChaetodontidae
- GenusChaetodon
- GenusChaetodon
- SpeciesChaetodon andamanensis
Named by Kuiter & Debelius, 1999
Close relatives
Other species of Chaetodon with a Codexery entry.
- Arabian butterflyfish Chaetodon melapterus
- Banded butterflyfish Chaetodon striatus
- Black butterflyfish Chaetodon flavirostris
- Blackback butterflyfish Chaetodon melannotus
- Chaetodon austriacus
- Chaetodon falcula
- Chaetodon plebeius
- Chaetodon semilarvatus
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Chaetodon andamanensis (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 273323 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Data Deficient (DD)
Data Deficient: there is not enough information to place this species on the risk scale.
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.15 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Chaetodon andamanensis
Where the andaman butterflyfish (chaetodon andamanensis) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (110 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 1 inland record left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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 2026-09-25.
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 2026-09-25.
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 2026-09-25.
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 2026-09-25.
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 2026-09-25.
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: Chaetodon andamanensis (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).
- Biology values: FishBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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