It is found in theÃÂ Indian OceanÃÂ andÃÂ Pacific OceanÃÂ from East Africa to the Line Islands; north to the Ryukyu Islands; south to the Great Barrier Reef; including Micronesia and the Galapagos Islands. It is a close relative of theÃÂ Mailed ButterflyfishÃÂ C. reticulatus and theÃÂ Ornate ButterflyfishÃÂ C. ornatissimus. Together they make up theÃÂ subgenusÃÂ calledÃÂ `Citharoedus`, but as this name had already been used for aÃÂ molluscÃÂ genus when it was given to the fish, it is not valid. They are probably quite close to the subgenusÃÂ CorallochaetodonÃÂ which contains for example theÃÂ Melon ButterflyfishÃÂ C. trifasciatus. Like these, they might be separated inÃÂ MegaprotodonÃÂ if theÃÂ genusÃÂ ChaetodonÃÂ is split up.
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