Chaetodipterus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ephippidae, the spadefishes.

This is a reference to the original genus the type species was assigned to but with a split dorsal fin.

They have a continuous dorsal fin with 9 low, well developed spines and between 18 and 23 soft rays.

The head body and most of the fins are covered in scales and the lateral line is complete.

[6] The largest species is the Atlantic spadefish, with a maximum published total length of 91 cm (36 in) while the smallest is the West African spadefish, which has a maximum published total length of 31 cm (12 in).