White fish with a yellow mouth and chest, large black patch on the back, yellow fins, and a pointed snout.

Saddleback butterflyfish

Chaetodon ephippium
Where at Shedd?
Wild Reef
Diet Shrimp, corals, algae and worms
Size Length: Up to 12 inches (30 cm)
Type Fishes
Range East Indian and West-Central Pacific Oceans
Habitat Lagoons, seaward reefs and coral reefs

Did you know?

  1. Bright colors and designs help butterflyfishes disappear against the many colors of the reef.
  2. When butterflyfishes wear stripes and spots, predators can’t quite tell what shape and size it really is.
  3. Most butterflyfishes have a dark stripe through their eye and an “eyespot” located towards their tail which helps confuse predators.

IUCN Red List Conservation Status