Saddle butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Chaetodon ephippium · Authority: Cuvier, 1831 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273335.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chaetodon garnoti Lesson, 1831; Chaetodon mulsanti Thiollière, 1857; Chaetodon principalis Cuvier, 1829; Rabdophorus rabdophorus ephippium (Cuvier, 1831).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273335 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 30 cm · Depth range: 0–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 20 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Occur in lagoons and seaward reefs to a depth of 30 m, prefer coral-rich and clear water areas (Ref. 205). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302).

Encountered singly, in pairs or small groups (adults often in pairs; juveniles solitary and inshore). Feed on filamentous algae, small invertebrates, coral polyps, and fish eggs. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5562) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-ephippium.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

6,223 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodon ephippium are published through GBIF from 37 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 318 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 35 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 (1,339); French Polynesia (588); American Samoa (470); New Caledonia (373); Fiji (349).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385324) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385324&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273335 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Chaetodon ephippium Cuvier, 1831 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 165681) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165681/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385324) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385324/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

It is a large butterflyfish, at up to 30 cm (nearly 12 in) long together with the Lined Butterflyfish (C. lineolatus) the giant among its genus. In shape it resembles certain angelfishes more than most of its relatives.

The overall color is yellowish grey, with a large black spot bordered below by a broad white band on the back and wavy blue lines on the lower sides. The throat and the outline of the hind parts is bright yellow. Adults have a filament extending posteriorly from the upper part of the soft portion of the dorsal fin.

The Saddle Butterflyfish is found at depths between 0 and 30 m in coral reefs. It feeds on filamentous algae, small invertebrates, coral polyps, and fish eggs.

The saddle butterflyfish was first formally described in 1831 by the French anatomist Georges Cuvier (1769-1832), the type locality was given as Bora Bora in the Society Islands, part of French Polynesia. It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, it appears to represent a distinct lineage, with the dotted butterflyfish (C. semeion) perhaps the only somewhat closely related species. Next closest seems to be a group including the blackback butterflyfish (C. melannotus), spot-tailed butterflyfish (C. ocellicaudus) and yellow-dotted butterflyfish (C. selene), but these are already so distant that their ancestors must have diverged from the saddle butterflyfish's soon after the Rabdophorus lineage started to diversify.

Source: Wikipedia: Saddle butterflyfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddle_butterflyfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.