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Morotai, Indonesia - Raccoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula)

Raccoon butterflyfish

A striped marine fish with a distinctive facial mask.

Photo: Rickard Zerpe, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The raccoon butterflyfish is a marine species found across the tropical Indo-Pacific and southeast Atlantic. It features a unique black and white face pattern and feeds on invertebrates. This fish lives in small groups on reefs and is sometimes kept in aquariums, where it helps control pest anemones but may eat soft corals.

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  • Grows up to 20 cm in length
  • Features a black and white raccoon-like face mask
  • Found in Indo-Pacific and southeast Atlantic waters
  • Eats pest anemones but may damage soft corals
  • Nocturnal species that lives in small groups

What it is

This marine ray-finned fish belongs to the butterflyfish family. It has an oval body shape that can grow up to twenty centimetres long. The most striking feature is its face, which displays black and white bands resembling a raccoon mask. Reddish oblique stripes run up its flanks, while yellow stripes appear behind the head. A black spot marks the area near the tail fin. The dorsal fin contains ten to fourteen spines, and the anal fin has three.

Where it lives

Its distribution covers a vast area of the tropical Indo-Pacific region. You can find it from East Africa all the way to the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands. Its range extends north to southern Japan. Unusually for this group, it also appears in the southeast Atlantic off the coast of South Africa. It prefers seaward reefs and the shallow flats of lagoons, typically staying at depths greater than thirty metres.

How it lives

This species is active at night and usually swims in small groups. Adults have a varied diet that includes nudibranchs and other small invertebrates. They also consume algae and coral polyps. In the wild, they navigate complex reef structures. Their nocturnal habits help them avoid some daytime predators, though specific natural enemies are not detailed in the available records.

Raccoon butterflyfish
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Aquarists keep this fish for its distinctive appearance and useful behaviour. It is generally peaceful towards other tank mates, except for lionfish and triggerfish. One notable benefit is its appetite for pest sea anemones like Aiptasia and Majano. It can clear these nuisances in a few weeks. However, it poses a risk to decorative soft corals, which it will eagerly eat. In captivity, it lives for five to seven years but is susceptible to marine ich infections.

Raccoon butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula in w:Kona is feeding on w:sea urchin
Raccoon butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula in w:Kona is feeding on w:sea urchin. Photo: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Group of raccoon butterfly fishes ( Chaetodon lfasciatus ), Ras Muhammad National Park, Egypt
Group of raccoon butterfly fishes ( Chaetodon lfasciatus ), Ras Muhammad National Park, Egypt. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Raccoon butterflyfish

How big does the raccoon butterflyfish get?

This species can reach a maximum length of twenty centimetres, which is nearly eight inches. It is considered a largish member of the butterflyfish family with an oval body shape.

Is the raccoon butterflyfish safe for reef aquariums?

It is generally peaceful but poses a risk to decorations. While it helps by eating pest anemones, it will also feed on soft corals. It may cause more harm than good to a decorated tank.

Where does this fish live in the wild?

It is found widely in the tropical Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Hawaii and Japan. It also inhabits the southeast Atlantic near South Africa, preferring seaward reefs and lagoon flats.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Raccoon butterflyfish", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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