Rainford's butterflyfish (Chaetodon rainfordi)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Chaetodon rainfordi · Authority: McCulloch, 1923 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273358.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chaetodon rainfordii McCulloch, 1923.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273358 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

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

FishBase notes: Found in areas of sparse coral growth. Feed on algae and small benthic invertebrates (Ref. 2334). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Heavy algae growth should always be maintained in the aquarium.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 6631) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-rainfordi.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

4,044 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodon rainfordi are published through GBIF from 1 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 67 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 3 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: Australia (4,044).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385524) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385524&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273358 (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 rainfordi McCulloch, 1923 as Near Threatened (code NT). 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 165717) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165717/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385524) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385524/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Chaetodon rainfordi may be distinguished by its colour compared to related species of fish. The basic colour of yellow with an orange bar, with dark edges, which runs through the eye and another thinner orange bar which goes through the base of the pectoral fin. There are then two blue-grey bands edged with yellow-orange on the body. There is normally a black spot on the caudal peduncle. The gold bands on the body often found on each side of the wider diffuse dark bars. The dorsal, anal and pectoral fins are yellow. The dorsal fin contains 10-11 spines and 20-22 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17-19 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 15 cm.

Chaetodon rainfordi is found in the south western Pacific Ocean. It is found off southern Papua New Guinea, along the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, south to the Solitary Islands and the Surgeons Reef off Red Rock, New South Wales. It is also found off Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.

Chaetodon rainfordi lives among coastal and offshore reefs, at depths between 5 and 20 m, where there is a sparse growth of corals. The juveniles live among branching corals. It is an obligate corallivore, feeding only on coral polyps. It is an oviparous species which forms pairs for breeding.

Chaetodon rainfordi was first formally described in 1923 by the Australian ichthyologist Allan Riverstone McCulloch (1885-1925) with the type locality given as Holbourne Island, off Port Denison, Queensland. The specific name honours the amateur naturalist and viticulturist with the Queensland Agricultural Department, Edward Henry Rainford who provided specimens of fish for the Australian Museum, including type of this species. This species is a close relative of the golden butterflyfish (C. aureofasciatus) and the eightband butterflyfish (C. octofasciatus). These species, together with the three-striped Butterflyfish (C. tricinctus), are high-bodied species which make up the subgenus Discochaetodon, of which C. octofasciatus is the type species. They appear to be close relatives of the subgenus Tetrachaetodon which includes for example the mirror butterflyfish (C. speculum) and together with these would probably go in Megaprotodon if Chaetodon is split up.

Chaetodon rainfordi is rarely found in the aquarium trade but it is difficult to keep in the aquarium due to its specialised diet. This species relies on coral for food and there have been severe depletion of numbers where there has been climate-induced coral die offs. Its inshore habitat is also being lost where sedimentation caused by anthropogenic activities on land. In some places, it has become locally extinct. The IUCN classifies this species as Near Threatened.

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