Occur in pairs on flat sand or silty bottoms on coastal reefs. Adults school in large numbers over open muddy substrates in deep water. Juveniles sometimes in large lagoons with seagrasses in depths of about 5 m or more . Oviparous . Form pairs during breeding .
Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28 - 30; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 20. : short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
Behavioural data for Sixspine butterflyfish is currently being reviewed.
Form pairs during breeding .
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 40 m . Tropical
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaetodon oligacanthus | Bleeker | 1850 | Synonym |
| Chaetodon townleyi | De Vis | 1884 | Synonym |
| Parachaetodon osceillatus | Cuvier | 1831 | Synonym |
| Platax ocellatus | Cuvier | 1831 | Synonym |
The following diseases are known to affect Sixspine butterflyfish.
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 21 records indexed .
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Sixspine butterflyfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.