WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Singular bannerfish

Heniochus singularius

Also known as: Bannerfish, Coralfish, Masked Heniochus, Bannerfishes

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@jpc · Bali-Tulanben, Indonesia · August 20011 / 3
01

Overview

Found singly, pairs, or in small schools, in deep lagoons and seaward reefs rich in 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
stripes
Fins & Tail
sail fin

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Eastern Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
  • Country only · 3
LIVES IN

Found singly, pairs, or in small schools, in deep lagoons and seaward reefs rich in coral growth

04

Adult photos 3

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 singularius Smith & Radcliffe, 1911

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae)