Bannerfish
Bannerfish
Heniochus acuminatus
CommonChaetodontidaeHarmless
ID points
- The fourth dorsal spine drawn out into a very long white banner
- Two broad black bars on a white ground
- Yellow snout, tail fin and rear fins yellow
Basics
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Length
- 20–25 cm
- Depth
- 2-75 m
- Regions
- Indo-Pacific reefs
- Distribution
- Indo-Pacific reef slopes and outer reefs
- Habitat
- Reef slopes and outer reefs
- Diet
- Zooplankton, coral polyps
Easily confused with
Saddleback ButterflyfishA large black saddle patch edged in white on the rear of the back
ButterflyfishFlattened disc-shaped body with a protruding snout
Copperband ButterflyfishFour broad copper-orange bands edged in black on a white groundFun fact
The Bannerfish carries an extremely long filamentous ray trailing from its dorsal fin, streaming behind it like a flag in the current. Schools patrol the edges of steep reef drop-offs, sometimes several hundred fish strong.
More in this family
- Eightband Butterflyfish
- Foureye Butterflyfish
- Lemon Butterflyfish
- Longnose Butterflyfish
- Raccoon Butterflyfish
- Teardrop Butterflyfish