Threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Chaetodon auriga · Authority: Forsskål, 1775 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218730.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Anisochaetodon auriga (Forsskål, 1775); Chaetodon auriga setifier (Bloch, 1795); Chaetodon lunaris Gronow, 1854; Chaetodon satifer Bloch, 1795; Chaetodon sebanus Cuvier, 1831; Chaetodon setifer Bloch, 1795; Linophora auriga (Forsskål, 1775); Pomacanthus filamentosus Lacepède, 1802; Pomacentrus setifer (Bloch, 1795); Rabdophorus linophora auriga (Forsskål, 1775); Sarothrodus auriga (Forsskål, 1775); Tetragonoptrus auriga (Forsskål, 1775); Tetragonoptrus setifer (Bloch, 1795).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218730 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 25 cm · Depth range: 0–60 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 23.3 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: May be seen in a variety of habitats ranging from rich coral reefs (Ref. 58652) to weedy and rubble covered areas (Ref. 1602). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Maybe found singly, in pairs, and in aggregations that roam over large distances in search of food. Feed mainly by tearing pieces from polychaetes, sea anemones, coral polyps, and algae (Ref. 1602). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5557) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodon-auriga.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

15,759 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodon auriga are published through GBIF from 63 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 318 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 53 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 (4,504); United States of America (2,256); United States Minor Outlying Islands (1,000); French Polynesia (983); Egypt (900).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385390) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385390&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218730 (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 auriga Forsskål, 1775 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 165631) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165631/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385390) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385390/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Chaetodon auriga is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and eastern Africa (south to Mossel Bay, South Africa) to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa Iti, at depths of 1 - 35 m. A single specimen was reported recently (2015) in the western Mediterranean Sea off Italy, a likely result of aquarium release.

Chaetodon auriga is up to 23 cm long. Its body is white with "chevron" markings on the side. The rear edge of the dorsal fin has a prominent black spot with a trailing filament behind it, and a black vertical band runs through the eye. The fish also has a belly patch of descending oblique dark lines and bright yellow fins. Two subspecies are sometimes recognised: Chaetodon auriga auriga occurs in the Red Sea and lacks the dorsal eyespot; Chaetodon auriga setifer is the spotted population occurring outside the Red Sea.

It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. Within this group, it is almost certainly a rather close relative of the vagabond butterflyfish (C. vagabundus) and the Indian vagabond butterflyfish (C. decussatus). The C. auriga species group shares the characteristic pattern of two areas of ascending and descending oblique lines, but they differ conspicuously in hindpart coloration.

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