Animal Species:Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758

The Vagabond Butterflyfish has a white body with two series of narrow dark lines set at right angles. The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West and Central Pacific.

A Vagabond Butterflyfish at Steve's Bommie

A Vagabond Butterflyfish at Steve's Bommie
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

Criss-cross Butterfly-fish

Identification

The Vagabond Butterflyfish has a white body with two series of narrow dark lines set at right angles. A broad black band passes through the eye and yellow horizontal lines cross the interorbital region. A black band is present at the rear of the body and another through the caudal fin. The soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins are yellow.

Juvenile Vagabond Butterflyfish resemble the adults, but have a black spot at the rear of the dorsal fin.

Size range

The species grows to 23 cm in length.

Similar Species

The Vagabond Butterflyfish is closely related to the Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish, C.decussatus, which has dark pigmentation on the soft dorsal and anal fins. The Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish is not found in Australia.

Distribution

This species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West and Central Pacific, from East Africa, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to the Tuamoto Islands.

In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, and the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland to the southern coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Chaetodon vagabundus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Vagabond Butterflyfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Vagabond Butterflyfish inhabit coral reefs and lagoons, often in areas of high turbidity and freshwater influxes. This fish is usually seen in pairs or small groups.

It is found in depths from 1 m to 30 m.

Feeding and Diet

The diet consists of coral polyps, anemones, polychaete worms and algae.

Classification

Species:
vagabundus
Genus:
Chaetodon
Family:
Chaetodontidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
  2. Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
  3. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon vagabundus, Chaetodontidae, white, black, yellow, 10 cm - 30 cm, 'normal fish', stripes or bands, coral reef, marine, adult,