Humphead Bannerfish (Heniochus varius)

Also known as Bannerfish, Brown-and-White Heniochus, Brown Butterflyfish, Bullfish, Coralfish, Heniochus Brown Butterflyfish, Horned Bannerfish, Horned Bullfish, Humphead Butterflyfish, Hunch-backed Bullfish, Hunch-backed Coralfish, Pennantfish

Description

Also known as Bannerfish, Brown-and-White Heniochus, Brown Butterflyfish, Bullfish, Coralfish, Heniochus Brown Butterflyfish, Horned Bannerfish, Horned Bullfish, Humphead Butterflyfish, Hunch-backed Bullfish, Hunch-backed Coralfish, Pennantfish.

Found singly, pairs, or in small schools, over deep lagoons and steep outer reefs rich in algae and coral growth.
They feed on coral and invertebrates.
Length - 19cm
Depth - 1-30m
Widespread Eastern Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean

Butterflyfishes have very fine hair like teeth that enable them to pick out small organisms inaccessible to most other fish for eating.
They thrive mainly on a diet of coral polyps, tentacles of featherdusters and Christmas-tree worms. As these food sources all zap back into their shells, butterflyfishes need to be able to hover motionless while picking at the coral and to dart swiftly over short distances to get the worm before it retracts. They do this by using their Pectoral fins as oars to brake, sprint, turn and even reverse. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Heniochus-varius.html

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