The Vagabond Butterflyfish is native to tropical reefs of the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to Japan and Australia.

The Vagabond grows typically to 15cm long but can reach 23cm. The slightly differently-marked Indian Vagabond (also called Black-finned Vagabond) is a different species of butterflyfish.

The Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish, also called the Black-finned Vagabond, is native to reefs of the Indian and far western Pacific Oceans, from the Maldives to western Indonesia. It grows to 20cm long. It looks similar to the Vagabond but most of the rear of the fish (excluding the tail) is black.