WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Phantom Bannerfish

Heniochus pleurotaenia

Also known as: Bannerfish, Coralfish, Indian Bannerfish, Indian Ocean Bannerfish, Pennantfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi, Maldives · August 20071 / 11
01

Overview

Found singly, pairs, or in schools, over shallow reef crests and surge zones, of lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in algae and coral growth.

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.

02

How to identify

Pattern
bars
Body shape
triangle
Head & Mouth
eyelash

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indian Ocean
  • Country only · 11
LIVES IN

Found singly, pairs, or in schools, over shallow reef crests and surge zones, of lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in algae and coral growth.

04

Adult photos 11

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderAcanthuriformes
    5. familyChaetodontidae
    6. genusHeniochus
    7. speciesHeniochus pleurotaenia Ahl, 1923

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae)