[2] The many-spined butterflyfish is found only around a few island groups in the southern Pacific Ocean.

[1][4] The many-spined butterflyfish occurs on deep seaward coral reefs[1] where it aggregates into schools varying in size from small to large in the middle of the water column at depths between 30 and 50 metres (98 and 164 ft).

[5] It is an oviparous species in which the males and females form pairs for breeding.

[2] The many-spined butterflyfish was first formally described in 1975 by the American ichthyologist John Ernest Randall (1924-2020) with the type locality given as the Patch reef off the Gannet Ridge on the northern side Pitcairn Island.

[3] Local fishermen collect this species for food using spears and the piscicide rotenone.