Hongkong butterflyfish (Chaetodon wiebeli)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Chaetodon wiebeli, commonly known as the Hong Kong butterflyfish, Wiebel's butterflyfish or blackcap butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is native to the Western Pacific Ocean.
- Scientific name
- Chaetodon wiebeli
- Authority
- Kaup, 1863
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Order
- Acanthuriformes
- Maximum length
- 19 cm
- Depth range
- 4–25 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 353
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Chaetodontidae · Genus: Chaetodon.
Accepted name: Chaetodon wiebeli · Authority: Kaup, 1863 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273366.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chaetodon bellamaris Seale, 1914; Chaetodon bella-maris Seale, 1914; Chaetodon collare knerii Ahl, 1923; Chaetodon frenatus Fowler, 1935; Chaetodon weibeli Kaup, 1863.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273366 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Chaetodon wiebeli. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 19 cm · Depth range: 4–25 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.
FishBase notes: Occur in rocky and coral reef areas (Ref. 9710), where they are found in pairs and small groups (Ref. 48636). Feed on algae (Ref. 9710). Oviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 6666) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-wiebeli.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
353 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodon wiebeli are published through GBIF from 11 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 37 distinct locations from a sample of 353 records, omitting 17 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: Thailand (187); China (58); Hong Kong (50); Viet Nam (20); Chinese Taipei (13); Korea, Republic of (10); Japan (9); Indonesia (2); Philippines (2); Cambodia (1); Malaysia (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385472) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385472&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273366 (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 wiebeli Kaup, 1863 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 165685) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165685/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385472) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385472/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Chaetodon wiebeli has an oval shaped, deep and strongly compressed body with a head which is the same height as its width and a short snout with a small protractile mouth equipped with setiform teeth in its jaws. These teeth are referred to in the genus name Chaetodon which means "bristle tooth". It has a smooth preopercle which does not have any obvious spines. The colouration is mainly yellow marked with oblique brown lines. There is a vertical black band running through the eye, with a white bar to its rear, and a black blotch on the forehead. The dorsal, anal, pelvic and caudal fins are yellow, although the caudal fin has a black margin. The dorsal fin contains a total of 12–13 spines and 22–25 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 18–20 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 19 cm.
Chaetodon wiebeli is found in the western Pacific Ocean from southern Japan and South Korea to northern Java, extending into the Gulf of Thailand.
Chaetodon wiebeli is found in both rocky and coral reefs, where they are normally encountered in pairs and small shoals. They feed on coral polyps, benthic invertebrates and algae. This is an oviparous species which forms pairs during breeding. They may be solitary and their main feeding technique is grazing algae off rocks. They can ben found at depths of 4 to 25 m.
Chaetodon wiebeli was first formally described in 1863 by the German ichthyologist Johann Jakob Kaup (1803–1873) with the type locality given as Canton in China. The specific name honours Kaup's friend, the naturalist and one of the founders of the Zoological Museum in Hamburg, Karl Maximilian Wiebel (1808–1888). It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus.
Source: Wikipedia: Chaetodon wiebeli — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetodon_wiebeli (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hongkong butterflyfish (Chaetodon wiebeli)?
It is a small ray-finned marine fish in the butterflyfish family (Chaetodontidae), first formally described by Kaup in 1863. The species is also called Wiebel's butterflyfish or blackcap butterflyfish and is native to the Western Pacific Ocean.
What are Hongkong butterflyfish (Chaetodon wiebeli)'s powers/role?
As a typical reef-dwelling butterflyfish, it forages among coral structures and helps sustain the food web of its habitat. It operates at depths of roughly 4 to 25 metres, where its small body (up to about 19 cm) lets it navigate tight reef crevices.
Why is Hongkong butterflyfish (Chaetodon wiebeli) important?
It is one of many butterflyfish species that help maintain ecological balance in Western Pacific reef communities. Marine biologists also use its presence and abundance as a rough indicator of overall reef health when surveying the region.
Where can fans spot Hongkong butterflyfish (Chaetodon wiebeli) in the wild?
Look for it in Western Pacific waters, typically hovering around coral reef structures at depths between 4 and 25 metres. At a maximum length of only about 19 cm, it can be easy to overlook among the busy reef scenery.
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