What family does Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802) belong to?

Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802) (Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802)) belongs to the family Chaetodontidae, order Perciformes, in the kingdom Animalia. You can identify it offline using the iNature app.

Can I identify Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802) without internet?

Yes. The iNature app uses on-device AI to identify Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802) and over 100,000 other species completely offline — no internet connection required. Download free on iOS.

How to Identify Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802) | Species ID Guide

Q: How to identify Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802)?

Chaetodon lunula, the raccoon butterflyfish, is a large reef-dwelling species found across the Indo-Pacific and southeast Atlantic.

About Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802)

Size and Shape

Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802) can reach a maximum length of 20 centimeters, which is nearly 8 inches. These are large butterflyfish that have an overall oval body shape.

Coloration

Their flanks feature a pattern of ascending oblique reddish stripes, while black and white bands cross their face and eyes that resemble the facial mask of a raccoon — this pattern gives the species its common name. Chaetodon lunula also has a black spot on the caudal peduncle, and oblique yellow stripes located behind the head. This species has between 10 and 14 dorsal spines, and 3 anal spines.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed across the tropical Indo-Pacific region, ranging from East Africa to the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands, and north as far as southern Japan. It also occurs in the southeast Atlantic off South Africa.