Red Sea Bannerfish (Heniochus intermedius)

Also known as Bannerfish, Coachman, Coralfish, Pennantfish, Red Sea Coachman, Red Sea Pennant Coralfish

Description

Also known as Bannerfish, Coachman, Coralfish, Pennantfish, Red Sea Coachman, Red Sea Pennant Coralfish.

Found singly, pairs, or in schools, often hovering under coral heads or around coral formations, over reef flats, of sheltered lagoons and seaward reef slopes.
They feed on benthic invertebrates and zooplankton.
Juveniles found in large schools at the base of reefs.
Length - 18cm
Depth - 3-50m
Western Indian Ocean - Red Sea to Gulf of Aden

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. (edit) Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/12309

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