Wrought iron butterflyfish (Chaetodon daedalma)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Chaetodontidae · Genus: Chaetodon.

Accepted name: Chaetodon daedalma · Authority: Jordan & Fowler, 1902 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273331.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273331 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Chaetodon daedalma. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 15 cm · Depth range: 1–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Inhabit clear and outer waters; usually more than 10 meters deep. Adults form schools of more than 10 individuals and migrate over a wide area. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Occasionally kept in captivity by Japanese aquarists but is rarely exported.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 12646) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-daedalma.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

28 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodon daedalma are published through GBIF from 1 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 7 distinct locations from a sample of 28 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: Japan (28).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385439) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385439&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273331 (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 daedalma Jordan & Fowler, 1902 as Least Concern (code LC). 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 165699) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165699/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385439) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385439/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Chaetodon daedalma is mainly metallic black in colour with yellow margins to the dorsal, anal and caudal fin. The body has some markings resembling a cross hatch in pattern.

The scales, have pale yellow centres and broad black margins forming a lattice or netted pattern. The largely black colouration is very unusual for a species of butterflyfish which are normally much more colourful. This species attains a maximum total length of 15 cm.

Distribution

Chaetodon daedalma is endemic to Japan where it is found on the main islands of Japan south of Sagami Bay, as well as the Ryukyu Islands, the Ogasawara Islands, and the Izu Islands.

Habitat and biology

Chaetodon daedalma is found in clear and outer waters at depths which are normally in excess of 10 m in depth. They are sociable fish and the adults are normally found in schools which number more than 10 individuals. They are also nomadic and the schools will range over a wide area. This is an oviparous species and the males and females form pairs for breeding.

They prefer rocky reefs where the graze on algae and benthic invertebrates, including fanworms, hydroids, gastropods, barnacles and tunicates. Sometimes these fish congregate to graze in huge numbers, creating in tight formation which undulates referred to as a "wrought-iron ball". This is thought to be a defensive strategy.

Taxonomy and etymology

Chaetodon daedalma was first formally described in 1902 by the American ichthyologists David Starr Jordan (1851-1931) and Henry Weed Fowler (1878-1965) with the type locality given as Naha, Okinawa Island in the Ryukyu Islands. The specific name daedalma means a style of artistic embroidery and refers to the patterning shown by this species.

Utlisation

Chaetodon daedalma is uncommon in the fish keeping trade outside Japan as it has a rather restricted distribution and it prefers cooler conditions than related species. When it is exported it commands a high price.

Source: Wikipedia: Chaetodon daedalma — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetodon_daedalma (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.