Hawaiian Butterflyfishes

Juvenile, Kahe Point, Oahu, 30 feet	Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 30 feet
Lanai Lookout, Oahu, 30 feet	Juvenile, Makua, Oahu, 15 feet

Juvenile, Kahe Point, Oahu, 25 feet	Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet
Kewalo, Oahu, 15 feet	Palea Point, Oahu, 30 feet
100 ft. Hole, Waikiki, Oahu, 75 feet	100 ft. Hole, Waikiki, Oahu, 75 feet
100 ft. Hole, Waikiki, Oahu, 75 feet	Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet
Juvenile, Makua, Oahu, 10 feet	YO-257 wreck, Waikiki, Oahu, 50 feet
Nihoa, NWHI, 40 feet	Angel Ledge, Midway Atoll, 80 feet

Hawaiian name	Lauwiliwili

Habitat	Hard reefs, rocky outcrops, walls, and wrecks exposed to current
Depth	To at least 800 feet
Diet	Zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, detritus, and fish eggs
Size	6 inches
Abundance	Especially common from Maui to Nihoa
Distribution	Endemic to Hawaii
Notes	May form large aggregations
Related species	Chaetodon guentheri

Japanese name	Goma-chochouo
Samoan name	Tifitifi-moamanu
Habitat	Reefs
Depth	To 100 feet
Diet	Benthic invertebrates, coral polyps, and filamentous algae
Size	5 inches
Abundance	Very rare in Hawaii; common in Indo-Pacific
Distribution	Indo-Pacific, East Africa to Japan, Hawaii (rare), and the Marquesas
Notes	Pale yellow with diagonally- aligned spots; anal fin has black outer border; may form pairs or small groups, but usually solitary in Hawaii
Similar species	Chaetodon miliaris, Chaetodon guentheri

Juvenile, Mokapu Pinnacle, Oahu, 120 feet	Kaiwi Point, Hawaii, 50 feet
Juvenile, 100ft Hole, Oahu, 80 feet	Juvenile, 100ft Hole, Oahu, 80 feet
Sea Tiger Wreck, Oahu, 95 feet

Japanese name	Mizore-chochouo
Samoan name	Tifitifi

Habitat	Deep reefs and walls exposed to current
Depth	40 to 200 feet
Diet	Zooplankton, soft coral polyps, and algae
Size	6 inches
Abundance	Fairly common
Distribution	Indo-Pacific; Red Sea to Japan, Samoa, Hawaii, and the Galapagos
Notes	Solitary

Juvenile, Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet	Makapu'u Pinnacle, Oahu, 20 feet
Juvenile, Kahe Point, Oahu, 35 feet	Juvenile, Kahe Point, Oahu, 35 feet

Juvenile, Moku Manu, Oahu, 50 feet	Ahihi Bay, Maui, 25 feet
Manana Island, Oahu, 25 feet	Night, Hau'ula, Oahu, 25 feet
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet

Hawaiian name	Lauhau
Japanese name	Itten-chocho-uo
Samoan name	Tifitifi-pulesama

Habitat	Reefs
Depth	To 200 feet
Diet	Coral polyps, small invertebrates, filamentous algae
Size	8 inches
Abundance	Uncommon
Distribution	Indo-Pacific, including Hawaii
Notes	Indian Ocean fish are mostly yellow

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 20 feet

Juvenile, Kaena Point, Oahu, 25 feet

Hawaiian name	Lauhau
Japanese name	Shiten-chochouo
Samoan name	Tifitifi-segasega
Habitat	Reefs
Depth	To 50 feet
Diet	Coral polyps (Pocillopora) and benthic invertebrates
Size	6 inches
Abundance	Common
Distribution	Central Pacific, Taiwan, Okinawa, Hawaii
Notes	Usually found as a pair

Juvenile, Waimanalo, Oahu	Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet	Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet

Hawaiian name	Kikakapu
Japanese name	Chohan
Samoan name	Tifitifi-laumea
Habitat	Reefs
Depth	To 100 feet
Diet	Benthic invertebrates and algae
Size	8 inches
Abundance	Common
Distribution	Indo-Pacific, South Africa to Japan, Hawaii, and Rapa
Notes	Nocturnal, may be found in large aggregations

Juvenile, Faga'alu, American Samoa, 6 feet	Wakatobi, Indonesia, 25 feet
Mahukona, Hawaii, 20 feet	Mahukona, Hawaii, 35 feet
Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, 6 feet

Hawaiian name	Kapuhili


Habitat	Sheltered coral reefs
Depth	To 60 feet
Diet	Coral polyps
Size	6 inches
Abundance	Uncommon
Distribution	Japan to Australia, Hawaii, and the Tuamotus
Notes	Usually found as a pair; recently separated from C. trifasciatus, an Indian Ocean species

Juvenile, Honaunau, Hawaii, 30 feet	Leone Point, American Samoa, 40 feet
Leone Point, American Samoa, 40 feet	Sharkfin, Lana'i, 15 feet
Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, 5 feet

Japanese name	Hakuten-katagi
Samoan name	Tifitifi-maono
Habitat	Coral reefs
Depth	To 100 feet, less than 15 feet in Hawaii
Diet	Coral polyps
Size	7 inches
Abundance	Common; rare in Hawaii, most common at the southern islands
Distribution	Ryukyus to Australia, Hawaii, and the Marquesas
Notes	Usually found as a pair

Juvenile, Faga'alu, Samoa, 5 feet	Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 45 feet
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 4 feet

Japanese name	Seguro-chochouo
Samoan name	Tifitifi-tuauli
Habitat	Coral reefs
Depth	To 100 feet
Diet	Coral polyps, benthic invertebrates, filamentous algae, and fish eggs
Size	12 inches
Abundance	Rare in Hawaii but fairly common elsewhere
Distribution	Sri Lanka to Japan, Hawaii, and the Marquesas
Notes	Forms pairs; skittish and difficult to photograph

Japanese name	Yarikatagi
Samoan name	Tifitifi-sae'u
Habitat	Associated with Acropora Table Corals
Depth	To 100 feet
Diet	Polyps and mucus of Acropora Table Corals
Size	7 inches
Abundance	Common where Acropora Table Corals exist but nearly absent in Hawaii except at French Frigate Shoals
Distribution	Indo-Pacific, Red Sea to the Society Islands
Notes	Vigorously defends its territory and highly dependent upon Acropora corals

Kahalu'u, Hawaii, 4 feet	Juvenile, Utulei, Samoa, 10 feet
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 8 feet	Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 8 feet
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 8 feet

Hawaiian name	Kikakapu
Japanese name	Toge-chochouo
Samoan name	I'usamasama, Si'u
Habitat	Reefs
Depth	To at least 100 feet
Diet	Small invertebrates, coral polyps, algae
Size	9 inches
Abundance	Fairly common
Distribution	Indo-Pacific, Red Sea to South Africa, Japan, Hawaii, and the Marquesas
Notes	Usually found as a pair, wary of divers
Similar species	Chaetodon lineolatus, Chaetodon vagabundus

Hawaiian name	Kikakapu
Japanese name	Nise-furai-chochouo
Samoan name	Tifitifi-laui'a
Habitat	Coral reefs
Depth	To at least 500 feet
Diet	Coral polyps, anemones, and algae
Size	12 inches
Abundance	Rare in Hawaii except the Big Island
Distribution	Indo-Pacific, Red Sea to Japan, Hawaii, and the Marquesas
Notes	Forms pairs and will often approach divers; world's largest butterflyfish
Similar species	Chaetodon auriga, Chaetodon oxycephalus

Juvenile at dusk, Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 25 feet	Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet
Puako, Hawaii, 35 feet

Hawaiian name	Kikakapu
Japanese name	Hanaguro-chochouo
Samoan name	Tifitifi-'ava'ava
Habitat	Coral reefs
Depth	To 100 feet
Diet	Coral tissue
Size	8 inches
Abundance	Common
Distribution	Sri Lanka to Japan, Hawaii, Marquesas, and Rapa
Notes	Occurs in pairs
Related species	Chaetodon meyeri has black diagonal stripes

SW Lanai, 130 feet	Juvenile, SW Lanai, 130 feet
SE Oahu, 60 feet	SE Oahu, 60 feet
SE Oahu, 60 feet	SE Oahu, 60 feet
SE Oahu, 60 feet	Mokapu Pinnacle, Oahu, 140 feet

Habitat	Rocky outcrops and current-swept ledges with Black Corals
Depth	Usually deeper than 100 feet
Diet	Benthic invertebrates and zooplankton
Size	7 inches
Abundance	Rare at recreational scuba depths; common deeper than 200 feet
Distribution	Hawaii and the Marshall Islands
Notes	Often found as pairs or small groups and curious around divers
Related species	Chaetodon flavocoronatus

Koko Head Wall, Oahu, 50 feet	Night, Sharkfin, Lana'i, 60 feet
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet	Chromis, Midway Atoll, 40 feet
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet	Baboon's nose, Oahu, 25 feet
YO-257 wreck, Waikiki, Oahu, 50 feet	100 ft. Hole, Waikiki, Oahu, 75 feet
Wakatobi, Indonesia, 30 feet

Japanese name	Kasumi-chochouo
Samoan name	Alosina
Habitat	In midwater near reefs, ledges, walls, and wrecks exposed to current
Depth	To 150 feet
Diet	Zooplankton
Size	7 inches
Abundance	Fairly common
Distribution	Indonesia to Japan, Hawaii, and Pitcairn Island
Notes	Forms large aggregations high above the bottom; head may be light or dark brown
Related species	Hemitaurichthys zoster

Sand Island Pipe, Oahu, 100 feet	Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet
Baboon's nose, Oahu, 30 feet

Habitat	Reefs and walls exposed to strong current and deep water
Depth	10 to 1000 feet
Diet	Zooplankton
Size	8 inches
Abundance	Uncommon
Distribution	Hawaii, Johnston Is., Line Is., Ogasawara, Samoa, Marianas, Tuamotus
Notes	Usually seen in mixed-species aggregations above the reef

Koko Head Wall, Oahu, 40 feet	Juvenile, Makua, Oahu, 30 feet
Rapture Reef, French Frigate Shoals, 75 feet	Lanai Lookout, Oahu, 40 feet

Japanese name	Mure-hatatatedai

Habitat	Open water near ledges and walls
Depth	50 to 700 feet
Diet	Feeds upon zooplankton high above the reef
Size	7 inches
Abundance	Fairly common in areas exposed to strong currents
Distribution	Cooler waters of the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea; Hawaii, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, New Guinea, Philippines, Maldives, Mascarenes, South Africa
Notes	Forms large aggregations; large scales distinguish it from the Moorish Idol
Similar species	Heniochus acuminatus, Zanclus cornutus

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet	Puako, Hawaii, 30 feet
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet	Kewalo, Oahu, 90 feet
Kewalo, Oahu, 90 feet

Hawaiian name	Lauwiliwilinukunuku'oi'oi
Japanese name	Fueyakkodai
Samoan name	Gutumanu
Mexican name	Mariposa hochicona
Habitat	Reefs
Depth	To 350 feet
Diet	Tube feet and pedicellariae of echinoderms, worm tentacles, and other invertebrates
Size	8.5 inches
Abundance	Common
Distribution	Indo-Pacific, Red Sea to Japan, Hawaii, Easter Island, Mexico, and the Galapagos
Notes	Region behind pectoral fin lacks small dots, opening of mouth is greater than F. longirostris, while snout is shorter
Similar species	Forcipiger longirostris

Old Kona Airport, Hawaii, 40 feet

Ke'ei, Hawaii, 45 feet

Transition phase, Honaunau, Hawaii, 30 feet

Dark phase, Puako, Hawaii, 30 feet

Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, 50 feet

Puako, Hawaii, 30 feet

YO-257 Wreck, Waikiki, Oahu, 80 feet

Sand Island Pipe, Oahu, 75 feet

Sand Island Pipe, Oahu, 75 feet

Hawaiian name	Lauwiliwilinukunuku'oi'oi
Japanese name	Ofueyakkodai
Samoan name	Gutumanu
Habitat	Seaward reefs
Depth	To at least 200 feet
Diet	Small crustaceans
Size	8.5 inches
Abundance	Fairly common off the islands of Hawaii and Maui, rare elsewhere
Distribution	Indo-Pacific, East Africa to Ogasawara, Hawaii, and Pitcairn Island
Notes	Opening of mouth very small; snout very long; rows of brown dots below pectoral fin Brown color form often seen along the Kona coast of Hawaii
Related Species	Forcipiger flavissimus