Heniochus

Heniochus is a genus of marine fish in the butterflyfish family, Chaetodontidae. These fish are commonly known as bannerfish or pennantfish due to their elongated dorsal fin, resembling a banner or pennant. They are found in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with a few species also found in the Red Sea.

Pennant coralfish – Heniochus acuminatus

Red Sea bannerfish – Heniochus intermedius

False moorish idol – Heniochus diphreutes

Characteristics

Bannerfish are easily recognizable by their distinctive appearance. They have a laterally compressed body with a small mouth, a long, pointed snout, and a long, flowing dorsal fin that extends past the tail. The dorsal fin is often brightly colored, contrasting with the rest of the body. The body itself can be patterned with vertical stripes or spots, and their colors are typically bright and bold, ranging from yellow and orange to black and white. The body scales are small and ctenoid, which means they have tiny, comb-like teeth.

Environments

Bannerfish are primarily reef-associated fish, often inhabiting shallow, coral-rich environments. They are found in a wide range of habitats, from sheltered lagoons to exposed reefs. Their diet consists mainly of small invertebrates, which they pick off the reef or in the water column. They are also known to feed on algae and plankton.

Species

There are currently eight recognized species of Heniochus:

  • Heniochus acuminatus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common bannerfish
  • Heniochus chrysostomus (Cuvier, 1831) - Golden bannerfish
  • Heniochus diphreutes (Jordan & Seale, 1906) - Masked bannerfish
  • Heniochus intermedius (Whitley, 1930) - Intermediate bannerfish
  • Heniochus monoceros (Cuvier, 1831) - Unicorn bannerfish
  • Heniochus pleurotaenia (Cuvier, 1831) - Longfin bannerfish
  • Heniochus singularius (Smith-Vaniz & Pyle, 1994) - Singular bannerfish
  • Heniochus varius (Cuvier, 1831) - Red bannerfish

References

For more information about Heniochus, consult these reliable online resources: