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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Tropical

Eightband butterflyfish

Chaetodon octofasciatus Bloch, 1787
Max Length
12 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
2.6
Depth
3–20 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
13.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Adults swim in pairs in coral rich areas of sheltered lagoon and inshore reefs; juveniles seen in groups among Acropora corals. They feed exclusively on coral polyps. Oviparous . Form pairs during breeding .

Scientific Name
Chaetodon octofasciatus
Authority
Bloch, 1787
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
12 cm
Depth Range
3–20 m
Latitude
30°S – 31°N
Trophic Level
2.6
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
13.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 19; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 14 - 17. White to yellowish below with 7 black stripes over head and sides, one centrally on snout and another as a strong black margin on end of dorsal and anal fins. Third line extends onto ventral fin . Snout length 3.0-4.1 in HL. Body depth 1.4-1.6 in SL .: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Eightband butterflyfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Eightband butterflyfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Distinct pairing . Monogamous mating is observed as both obligate and social .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range 3 - 20 m . Tropical; 31°N - 30°S, 52°E - 179°W West Pacific: East Indies and the Philippines, through Papua New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef to the Solomon Island, Palau, and north to China; extends into the Indian Ocean at least to the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
2.6±0.4

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.02291 × L3 (TL)
Max TL
12cm
Dorsal Spines
11
Dorsal Rays
18
Anal Spines
4
Anal Rays
16

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2009

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
13.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.6
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
31°N – 30°S
Described By
Bloch, 1787

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Eightband butterflyfish is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.3 g
Omega-3 (total) 107 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Eightband butterflyfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Eight Banded Butterflyfish · Eight Striped Butterflyfish · Eight-banded Butterfly-fish · Eight-banded Butterflyfish · Eight-banded coralfish · Eight-striped Butterflyfish · eightband butterflyfish · rightbanded butterflyfish
🏳️Catalan Peix papallona abella
🌍CES klipka osmipruhá
🇩🇰Danish Ottebåndet fanefisk
🇩🇪German Achtbinden-Falterfisch
🇫🇷French Poisson-papillon à huit bandes
🇮🇹Italian Pesce farfalla a otto bande
🇯🇵Japanese Yasuji-chôchô-uo · Yasujichochouo · ヤスジチョウチョウウオ
🇵🇹Portuguese Peixe-borboleta-de-oito-listras
🇷🇺Russian Восьмиполосая рыба-бабочка
🇪🇸Spanish Pez Mariposa de Ocho Bandas
🇸🇪Swedish Åttstrimmig Fjärilsfisk
🌍THA ปลาผีเสื้อลายแปดเส้น · ปลาผีเสื้อแปดขีด · ปลาผีเสื้อแปดแถบ
🌍VIE Cá Bướm tám vạch
🇨🇳Chinese 八帶蝴蝶魚 · 八線蝶

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Cahetodon octofasciatus Bloch 1787 Synonym
Chaetodon octolineatus Gronow 1854 Synonym
Tetragonopterus octofasciatus Bloch 1787 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 29 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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