foureye butterflyfish
Chaetodon capistratus
Butterflyfish of shallow Caribbean reefs, with a large black spot ringed in white near the dorsal fin. There are reports of ciguatera, so it is not a fish to eat.
Also called: borboleta-de-quatro-olhos, mariposa ocelada, isabelita blanca, foureye butterflyfish
- maximum
- 15 cm
- depth
- 2–20 m
who is the foureye butterflyfish
Butterflyfish of the family Chaetodontidae, of the reef butterflyfishes, living on shallow reefs, usually 2 to 20 m deep. It reaches 15 cm and matures near 9 cm. It ranges from Massachusetts and Bermuda to northern South America, with records from the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico and the Antilles. It mainly eats zoanthids, polychaete worms, gorgonians and tunicates. It pairs up for breeding and lays eggs in the water. In fishing it is bycatch, and it has aquarium value.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the foureye butterflyfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It is easy to approach, and is usually seen alone or in pairs.
identification
Pale, tall body, with a large black spot near the rear of the dorsal fin, surrounded by a white ring. It has narrow, diagonal dark lines that meet in the middle of the flank and form a row of V shapes pointing forward. On the head there is a black bar running through the eye, and the pelvic fins are yellow. To tell it apart from Chaetodon striatus, which has wide bars and not this pattern, look at the spot with the white ring and the V-shaped lines.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America it lives on shallow reefs of Mexico, Nicaragua, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Trinidad, plus other Caribbean islands.
Habitat: Shallow coral reefs, usually 2 to 20 m.
rules for the foureye butterflyfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It is not dangerous to anglers, but there are reports of ciguatera: it is not a fish to eat. Handle it with a wet hand and release it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02512, b = 3.09; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Chaetodon capistratus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Chaetodon capistratusNames by country and language.
