Somali butterflyfish (Chaetodon leucopleura)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Chaetodon leucopleura · Authority: Playfair, 1867 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218750.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chaetodon leucopygus Ahl, 1923.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218750 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 18 cm · Depth range: 7–75 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 12 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: The species apparently prefers deeper water, in deep coral rich reefs, often near base of slopes over coral rubble. Usually solitary or in pairs over open bottoms. Uncommon (Ref. 9710). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 8083) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-leucopleura.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

62 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodon leucopleura are published through GBIF from 7 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 15 distinct locations from a sample of 62 records, omitting 8 inland records 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: Kenya (16); Yemen (16); Oman (14); Somalia (9); Tanzania, United Republic of (4); Seychelles (2); Saudi Arabia (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone; Seychellois Exclusive Economic Zone; Kenyan Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385312) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385312&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218750 (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 leucopleura Playfair, 1867 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 165610) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165610/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385312) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385312/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Chaetodon leucopleura has a laterally compressed and oval shaped body with a pointed snout as is typical for butterflyfish. The lower part of the body is white while the upper part being dark greyish black. They have a yellow curved line along the margin of the operculum and a black bar running through the eye. There are 5–6 thin, horizontal lines between the eyes and the upper lips are black. The fins are yellow. The dorsal fin has 12 spines and 21–23 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 18–19 soft rays. This species attains a maximum standard length of 18 cm.

Chaetodon leucopleura is found in the northwestern Indian Ocean, it occurs in the along the East African coast from Sudan south to Zanzibar, the island of Socotra, the Seychelles south to Aldabra. In the southern Red Sea it is found around the Farasan Islands of Saudi Arabia and off Yemen.

Chaetodon leucopleura appears to have a preference for deeper water and is found at depths of 7 to 80 m. They occur on deep coral rich reefs, frequently close to the base of slopes over coral scree. They are typically encountered either solitarily or as pairs over open bottoms. It is an uncommon species. They form pairs for breeding and are oviparous. Their diet consists of coral polyps and benthic invertebrates.

Chaetodon leucopleura was first formally described in 1867 by the Scots naturalist Lambert Playfair (1828–1899) with the type locality given as Zanzibar. This species is tentatively placed in the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus.

Source: Wikipedia: Chaetodon leucopleura — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetodon_leucopleura (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.