Lattice butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesii)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Chaetodon rafflesii · Authority: Anonymous [Bennett], 1830 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273357.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Anisochaetodon rafflesi (Anonymous [Bennett], 1830); Chaetodon dahli Ahl, 1923; Chaetodon princeps Cuvier, 1831; Chaetodon raffelsii Anonymous [Bennett], 1830; Chaetodon rafflesi Anonymous [Bennett], 1830; Chaetodon rafflessi Anonymous [Bennett], 1830; Chaetodon sebae Cuvier, 1831.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273357 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 18 cm · Common length: 15 cm · Depth range: 0–15 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: An uncommon species found in areas of rich coral growth of lagoon and protected reef flats and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Often in pairs (Ref. 9710, 48636). Feed on sea anemones, polychaetes, and octocorallian and scleractinian coral polyps. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). In captivity, this species should be fed algae stones and the so-called 'feeding stones' which are prepared by spreading the food pulp over the stone. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5573) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-rafflesii.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

2,608 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodon rafflesii are published through GBIF from 31 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 315 distinct locations from a sample of 2,608 records, omitting 43 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 (557); Indonesia (411); Fiji (296); Solomon Islands (232); New Caledonia (195).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385503) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385503&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273357 (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 rafflesii Anonymous [Bennett], 1830 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 165680) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165680/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385503) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385503/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The latticed butterflyfish is mainly yellow butterflyfish which has dark edges to its scales which create a dark lattice pattern on the flanks. There is a vertical black bar running through the eye and it has a blue parch on the forehead. The soft rayed part of the dorsal fin has a dark submarginal band while there is a wide black bar through the centre of the caudal fin. Sometimes there is a black spot underneath the spiny section of the dorsal fin and juveniles have a dark spot on the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin. The dorsal fin contains 12-13 spines and 21-23 soft rays while the anal fins has 3 spines and 18-20 soft rays. This species can reach a maximum total length of 18 cm, although 15 cm is a more common total length.

The latticed butterflyfish is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where it occurs from Sri Lanka to the Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef, and from Palau (Belau) to the eastern Caroline Islands in Micronesia.

The latticed butterflyfish is an uncommon species found in areas of rich coral growth of lagoons and protected reef flats and seaward reefs from 1 – 20 m depth. It feeds on sea anemones, polychaetes, and octocorallian and scleractinian coral polyps. It is normally observed in pairs.

The latticed butterfly fish was first formally described in an anonymous description which was appended to the biography of the British statesman and colonialist Sir Stamford Raffles, who was first president of the Zoological Society of London, written by his widow, Sophia Hull. Raffles employed botanists and zoologists to collect specimens and it is thought that the description was written by Edward Turner Bennett (1797-1836) and the type locality was Sumatra. The specific name honours Raffles.

It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus, which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, it seems to represent a rather unusual lineage, with perhaps just the white-faced butterflyfish (C. mesoleucos) being less distantly related.

Source: Wikipedia: Latticed butterflyfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latticed_butterflyfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.