Spotfin Butterflyfish
Chaetodon ocellatus
A yellow-finned explorer with a spotted dorsal fin.
Spotfin Butterflyfish travel in pairs or small groups over sandy areas near reefs. Their small mouths reach into crevices to pick out food.
Find this SeaPal in the card gallery
From field guide to game table
Bring this Spotfin Butterflyfish home
See which ready-to-play decks feature this SeaPal. Try one in the simulator before you buy, or explore each full deck list.
- 2 copies
Ready-to-play deck
Coral Garden Deck
Includes 2 cards featuring Spotfin Butterflyfish.
Quick dive
Creature passport
- Home
- Shallow western Atlantic reefs from North Carolina to Brazil; young fish also use seagrass beds.
- Favorite foods
- Anemones, tube worms, tunicates, and other small invertebrates.
- Size check
- Up to 8 in (20 cm), though most are smaller
Tell-your-friends facts
Four wonderfully wild things
- 1
A black stripe crosses its eye.
- 2
Dark bands appear on its body at night.
- 3
Young fish have an extra dark band near the tail.
- 4
Its flattened body is shaped like a thin disc.
Ocean superpower
Built to be amazing
A narrow mouth and bristle-like teeth help it feed in tight spaces.
Junior scientist tip
What should I look for?
Find yellow fins, a pale body, and a black spot near the back of the dorsal fin.
Grown-up research links
We used trusted science organizations to check this profile.