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Yellow longnose butterflyfish ( Forcipiger flavissimus ), Anilao, Philippines. It is a small fish which grows up to 22 centimetres (8.7 in) in length and a species that can also be found in the aquarium trade. It's wides

Yellow longnose butterflyfish

A bright yellow reef fish with a long snout.

Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The yellow longnose butterflyfish is a marine species found across the Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific. It lives in coral reefs, grows to 22 cm, and forms long-term monogamous pairs to defend territory.

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  • Grows up to 22 cm in length
  • Forms monogamous pairs for years
  • Uses sound to signal territory size
  • Found from Africa to Hawaii
  • Lays floating pelagic eggs

What it is

This marine fish belongs to the butterflyfish family. It has a distinctive long snout and bright yellow colouring. Adults reach a maximum length of 22 cm. The species inhabits tropical coral reefs where it uses its elongated mouth to feed on small invertebrates hidden in the substrate.

Where it lives

Its distribution covers the tropical Indo-Pacific region, stretching from the eastern coast of Africa to Hawaii, including the Red Sea. It also occurs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from Baja California down to the Revillagigedo Islands and the Galapagos. These fish prefer stable coral environments within these warm waters.

How it lives

Individuals are territorial and patrol specific coral patches. They live in monogamous heterosexual pairs that can stay together for seven years or more. Males defend territories containing a female, while females guard food sources from other females. Aggression usually occurs between members of the same sex, with chasing being rare.

Breeding and life cycle

They lay pelagic eggs that float freely in the water column. Biparental care is not required for the young. The monogamous pairing likely evolved to help defend resources more efficiently than a single fish could. This cooperative defence allows the pair to maintain control over their feeding grounds.

Yellow longnose 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

This species is popular in the aquarium trade due to its striking appearance. Fishkeepers value its active behaviour and unique shape. It is not typically harvested for food but is sought after by hobbyists who maintain marine reef tanks.

Questions people ask about Yellow longnose butterflyfish

How large does the yellow longnose butterflyfish get?

This species grows to a maximum length of 22 cm, which is approximately 8.7 inches. This size makes it suitable for larger home aquariums.

Do these fish live alone or in groups?

They form monogamous heterosexual pairs. These pairs stay together for long periods, often seven years or more, to defend their territory and resources jointly.

Where can you find this fish in the wild?

It lives in tropical waters across the Indo-Pacific, from Africa to Hawaii. It is also found in the eastern Pacific, from Baja California to the Galapagos Islands.

How do they communicate with rivals?

They use acoustic behaviors and body movements to produce sounds. The duration and intensity of these sounds help rivals assess body size and territory strength.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Yellow longnose 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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The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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