Spotband butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Chaetodon punctatofasciatus · Authority: Cuvier, 1831 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273355.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chaetodon punctato-fasciatus Cuvier, 1831; Chaetodon punctatolineatus Gronow, 1854; Chaetodon punctofasciatus Cuvier, 1831.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273355 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 12 cm · Depth range: 0–45 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: Common in coral rich areas and clear waters of lagoon and seaward reefs. Sometimes found on outer subtidal reef flats (Ref. 1602). Juveniles secretive (Ref. 48636). Feed on filamentous algae, corals, and benthic invertebrates. Often in pairs during breeding (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Occasionally hybridize with C. pelewensis in the southern part of its range (Ref. 9710). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5571) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-punctatofasciatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

2,947 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodon punctatofasciatus are published through GBIF from 23 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 185 distinct locations from a sample of 2,947 records, omitting 24 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: Northern Mariana Islands (1,215); United States Minor Outlying Islands (612); Australia (389); Guam (192); Indonesia (171).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385349) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385349&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273355 (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 punctatofasciatus 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 165632) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165632/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385349) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385349/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

It is found in the Indo- West Pacific region from Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Line Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Rowley Shoals and the northern Great Barrier Reef, and throughout Micronesia. Replaced by its close relative the Peppered butterflyfish (C. guttatissimus) in the Indian Ocean, these two species are sympatric from Christmas Island to Bali.

This is one of the members of the subgenus Exornator. With the Peppered butterflyfish it is part of a close-knit group which also includes the Pebbled butterflyfish (C. multicinctus) and the Sunset butterflyfish (C. pelewensis). It is suspected that these four are able to produce fertile hybrids. If the genus Chaetodon is split up, Exornator might become a subgenus of Lepidochaetodon. C. punctatofasciatus is the type species of the subgenus Exornator and was first formally described in 1831 by the French anatomist Georges Cuvier (1769–1832).

The spot-banded butterflyfish grows to a maximum of 12 cm long. Its body is pale grey with close-set grey spots which are aligned in vertical bands, interspersed with yellow, on the upper sides and form horizontal rows on the lower sides. The dorsal fin has a yellow margin and there is a bright orange patch running through the caudal peduncle.

It is found in coral-rich areas and clear waters of seaward and lagoon reefs. This fish feeds on filamentous algae and coral polyps and other benthic invertebrates.

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