Zanzibar butterflyfish (Chaetodon zanzibarensis)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Chaetodon zanzibarensis, the Zanzibar butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It has a wide distribution throughout the western Indian Ocean stretching from the eastern coast of Africa to Madagascar, the Seychelles, Réunion and Mauritius.
- Scientific name
- Chaetodon zanzibarensis
- Authority
- Playfair, 1867
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Order
- Acanthuriformes
- Maximum length
- 12 cm
- Depth range
- 3–40 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 137
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Chaetodontidae · Genus: Chaetodon.
Accepted name: Chaetodon zanzibarensis · Authority: Playfair, 1867 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273368.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chaetodon zanzibariensis Playfair, 1867.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273368 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Chaetodon zanzibarensis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 12 cm · Depth range: 3–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.
FishBase notes: Usually seen alone or in pairs (specially during spawning) but occasionally in small groups, particularly in the vicinity of staghorn Acropora and Goniopora (Ref. 5503) thickets. Diet consists of live corals which makes it difficult to maintain in captivity (Ref. 4858). Little intraspecific nor interspecific aggressiveness (Ref. 5503). Oviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 8933) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-zanzibarensis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
137 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodon zanzibarensis are published through GBIF from 15 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 47 distinct locations from a sample of 137 records, omitting 4 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: Seychelles (69); British Indian Ocean Territory (10); Réunion (10); Mauritius (9); Madagascar (7); Tanzania, United Republic of (6); French Southern Territories (5); Kenya (4); Mozambique (4); Mayotte (4); Yemen (3); India (2); Maldives (2); Somalia (1); South Africa (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385360) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385360&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273368 (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 zanzibarensis 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 165612) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165612/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385360) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385360/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The Zanzibar butterflyfish is one of the smaller members of its genus, growing to a length of about 12 cm. The dorsal fin has 13 to 14 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays. The overall colour of this fish is yellow. It has a large black spot on its upper flank, often with a whitish or bluish rim, and a vertical black bar through its eye. There are numerous faint dark, slightly curved stripes lining its sides.
The Zanzibar butterflyfish is native to the tropical waters of the western Indian Ocean. Its range includes the Chagos Archipelago, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Réunion, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Yemen. It prefers lagoons and outer reef slopes at depths of from 1 to 40 m.
Chaetodon zanzibarensis is a specialist feeder that consumes the polyps of scleractinian corals, particularly Acropora species. It may additionally feed on the tentacles of feather duster worms and Christmas tree worms. All these animals are alert to danger, and the fish uses its pectoral fins to twist and turn, to hover motionless and to dart forwards to nip off a mouthful of prey before the animal retracts its soft tissues. A study in the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean found that on coral-rich reefs, corallivores such as Chaetodon zanzibarensis dominated assemblies of butterflyfish. Despite being more vulnerable to habitat destruction and loss of the corals on which they depend, these fish seem better able to cope with minor disturbances than non-specialist feeders.
As a specialist feeder on corals, this species is likely to be affected by reef destruction and coral loss, though the part of the Indian Ocean in which this species is found is relatively unaffected by the coral losses associated with climate change in other parts of the world. Some individuals are collected for the aquarium trade but no other major threats are known, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Source: Wikipedia: Chaetodon zanzibarensis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetodon_zanzibarensis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Zanzibar butterflyfish (Chaetodon zanzibarensis)?
Chaetodon zanzibarensis is a small marine butterflyfish in the family Chaetodontidae, first formally described by Playfair back in 1867. It tops out at roughly 12 cm in length and takes its common name from the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar, where it was originally collected.
What are Zanzibar butterflyfish (Chaetodon zanzibarensis)'s powers/role?
As a reef-dwelling butterflyfish, it forages on small invertebrates and algae, helping keep coral reef communities in balance. It operates in a depth band of about 3 to 40 metres, making it a mid-to-shallow reef specialist rather than a deep-water species.
Why is Zanzibar butterflyfish (Chaetodon zanzibarensis) important?
It acts as a living indicator of coral-reef health across the western Indian Ocean, since it depends on intact reef habitat for both feeding and shelter. Its broad distribution makes it a handy reference species when scientists assess regional marine biodiversity.
Where can I find Zanzibar butterflyfish (Chaetodon zanzibarensis)?
You'll encounter it along the eastern African coastline, around Madagascar, and as far east as the Seychelles, Réunion, and Mauritius. In the wild it hangs around coral reefs at depths typically between 3 and 40 metres.
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