Goldstripe Butterflyfish, Chaetodon aureofasciatus Macleay 1878

Other Names: Gold-banded Butterflyfish, Golden Butterflyfish, Goldenrod Butterflyfish, Goldenstriped Butterflyfish, Golden-striped Butterflyfish, Gold-striped Butterfly-fish, Sunburst Butterflyfish

Goldstripe Butterflyfish, Chaetodon aureofasciatus, in the Dampier Marine Park, Western Australia. Source: Rick Stuart-Smith / Reef Life Survey. License: CC By Attribution

Summary:

A greyish butterflyfish with a bright yellow rim, and an orange band through the eye.

Cite this page as:

Dianne J. Bray & Audrey S. Thompson, Chaetodon aureofasciatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 May 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2374

Goldstripe Butterflyfish, Chaetodon aureofasciatus Macleay 1878

More Info

Distribution	Coral Bay, Western Australia, to Moreton Bay, Queensland; also in southern Papua New Guinea. Inhabits coastal and offshore reefs, often on silty coastel reefs, including near river mouths.
Feeding	An obligate corallivore - feeds on coral polyps, although it can live in areas with sparse coral growth.
Fisheries	Although sold in the aquarium industry, this species rarely is difficult to maintain as it feeds on live corals.
Remarks	Chaetodon aureofasciatus hybridises with Rainford's Butterflyfish, *Chaetodon rainfordi*.
Species Citation	Chaetodon aureofasciatus Macleay, 1878, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 1 2(4): 351. Type locality: Port Darwin, NT.
Author	Dianne J. Bray & Audrey S. Thompson

Goldstripe Butterflyfish, Chaetodon aureofasciatus Macleay 1878

References

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Pratchett, M.S. 2005. Dietary overlap among coral-feeding butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef. Marine Biology 148: 373-382.

Pratchett, M.S. & Berumen, M.L. 2008. Interspecific variation in ditributions and diets of coral reef butterflyfishes (Teleostei: Chaetodontidae). Journal of Fish Biology 73: 1730-1747.

Pratchett, M.S., Munday, P.L., Wilson, S.K., Graham, N.A.J., Cinner, J.E., Bellwood, D.R., Jones, G.P., Polunin, N.V.C. & McClanahan, T.R. 2008. Effects of climate-induced coral bleaching on coral reef fishes - Ecological and economic consequences. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review 46: 251-296.

Pratchett, M.S., Wilson, S.K. & Baird, A.H. 2006. Declines in the abundance of Chaetodon butterflyfishes following extensive coral depletion. Journal of Fish Biology 69: 1269-1280.
Pyle, R. 2001. Chaetodontidae, Pomacanthidae. pp. 3224-3286 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 5 2791-3379 pp.

Pyle, R., Myers, R., Craig, M.T. & Pratchett, M. 2010. Chaetodon aureofasciatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. . Downloaded on 16 August 2015.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 507 pp. figs.

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Sainsbury, K.J., Kailola, P.J. & Leyland, G.G. 1985. Continental Shelf Fishes of Northern and North-Western Australia. Canberra : Fisheries Information Service 375 pp. figs & pls.

Steene, R.C. 1978. Butterfly and Angelfishes of the World. Australia. Sydney : A.H. & A.W. Reed Vol. 1 144 pp. 216 figs.