FishCommonVisible while snorkeling

Crown butterflyfish

Chaetodon paucifasciatus

A pearl-white body, black chevrons and a glowing red "crown" before the tail – the crown butterflyfish is a tiny jewel of the Red Sea.

Photo: iNaturalist – (c) Frank Krasovec, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Frank Krasovec

The crown butterflyfish (Chaetodon paucifasciatus) is endemic to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and although it is one of the smaller butterflyfish at 12–14 cm, its pattern is among the finest on the whole reef. Sharp black chevron bands line its pearly white body, a red bar crosses the eye, and a vivid red-orange patch glows on the rear of the body – the "crown" that gives the fish its name.

It typically lives in a faithful pair, the two fish working the crevices and ledges of the coral garden together – though small groups also form. Its menu is mixed: coral polyps, small worms, tiny crustaceans and algae all feature, which makes it less dependent on coral health than its strictly polyp-eating relatives. It is a nimble, curious fish that tolerates cooler water well – it is common even on the deeper, colder reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Around Hurghada the pairs foraging in sheltered coral gardens and around pinnacles and blocks are easy to spot: they are a regular sight in the "aquarium" of Gota Abu Ramada, at the El Aruk coral towers and along the Small Giftun walls. It also turns up in the shallows for snorkelers, and photographers love it because it moves slowly and predictably while feeding.

Did you know?

Its scientific name "paucifasciatus" means "few-banded" – a rather modest label for a fish whose chevrons and red crown can keep underwater photographers following a single pair for half a dive.

Where can you meet it?

Foraging pairs are seen on almost every dive in the Gota Abu Ramada coral garden, at the El Aruk pinnacles and along the Small Giftun walls.

Frequently asked questions

No, it is completely harmless – a palm-sized, peaceful coral-picker. You can happily watch it up close, just avoid sudden movements that would scare it off.

Yes, the crown butterflyfish is endemic to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. At Hurghada you are watching a fish you would look for in vain in any other sea in the world.

Yes, it occurs in shallow coral gardens too, though it is a little more common slightly deeper than on the reef top. Your best chance is around sheltered coral blocks – watch for the white-and-red flashes between the corals.