Longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger longirostris)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Forcipiger longirostris, commonly known as the longnose butterflyfish or big longnose butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish found on coral reefs throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. Even with its distinctive, point-like long nose, the longnose butterflyfish still can easily be confused with its more common cousin F. flavissimus. Both species may be kept in aquariums.
- Scientific name
- Forcipiger longirostris
- Authority
- (Broussonet, 1782)
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Order
- Acanthuriformes
- Maximum length
- 22 cm
- Depth range
- 0–200 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 2,978
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Chaetodontidae · Genus: Forcipiger.
Accepted name: Forcipiger longirostris · Authority: (Broussonet, 1782) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218759.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chaetodon longirostris Broussonet, 1782; Chelmo longirostris (Broussonet, 1782); Forcipiger cyrano Randall, 1961; Forcipiger inornatus Randall, 1961; Prognathodes longirostris (Broussonet, 1782).
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218759 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Forcipiger longirostris. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 22 cm · Depth range: 0–200 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 12 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.
FishBase notes: A generally uncommon species that inhabits seaward reefs to depths greater than 60 m (Ref. 9710). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds mainly on whole organisms such as small crustaceans. Usually seen in pairs. Oviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Forms pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Sometimes dark brown instead of yellow (Ref. 48636). In the East Indian region this species is replaced by F. wanai at Cenderawasih Bay (Ref. 90102). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5585) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Forcipiger-longirostris.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
2,978 georeferenced occurrence records for Forcipiger longirostris are published through GBIF from 46 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 359 distinct locations from a sample of 2,978 records, omitting 27 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: United States of America (463); French Polynesia (383); American Samoa (313); Australia (204); Northern Mariana Islands (167).
The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385700) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385700&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218759 (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 Forcipiger longirostris (Broussonet, 1782) 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 165667) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165667/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385700) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385700/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
F. longirostris has a compressed yellow body with a black triangular region on its head, and as the name implies, a long, silvery snout. Usually 10 or 11 dorsal spines, a black spot on the anal fin, and rows of small black spots on the breast are found. The fish grows to about 22 cm in length. In comparison, F. flavissimus has more dorsal spines, lacks the black spots, and its operculum is more curved.
Rarely, F. longirostris can be found in an all-black form, as well, or the yellow portion may be brown.
F. longirostris is a diurnal omnivore, feeding mostly on small crustaceans, tube feet of echinoderms and sea urchins, and polychaete tentacles. Like other butterflyfish species, longnose butterflyfish mate for life.
F. longirostris, together with F. flavissimus, is known for having the longest fish name in the Hawaiian language: lauwiliwilinukunukuʻoiʻoi, or "long-snouted (sharp-beaked) fish shaped like a wiliwili leaf". It was the first Hawaiian fish to receive a scientific name, when Captain James Cook collected a specimen (this remains part of the British Museum collection).
Source: Wikipedia: Forcipiger longirostris — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forcipiger_longirostris (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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