Schooling bannerfish

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Schooling bannerfish

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Heniochus
Species:
H. diphreutes
Binomial name
Heniochus diphreutes

The schooling bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes), also known as the false moorish idol, is a marine

Chaetodontidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific
area.

Description

Schooling on a wreck, Taba, Egypt.

The schooling bannerfish is a small fish that can reach a maximum length of 18–21 cm.[2][3]

Its body is compressed laterally, and the first rays of its

pectoral fins
are yellow. The head is white, the eyes are black and linked together by a black to gray band. The short snout, spotted with black to gray, has a small terminal, extensible mouth.

A comparison of three similar species: moorish idol (left), schooling bannerfish (top), and pennant coralfish (bottom)

Distribution and habitat

The schooling bannerfish is widespread throughout the tropical, subtropical and temperate waters of the Indo-Pacific from the eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea included, to Polynesia and Hawaii and from south Japan to Kermadec Islands (New Zealand).[1][2]

The schooling bannerfish prefers external reef slopes and channels. It has a large depth range and is usually observed at 5–30 m depth, but may reach 210 meters deep in some localities.[2][4]

Ecology

As is indicated by its common name, the schooling bannerfish lives in large groups. It feeds on zooplankton in the open water, and juveniles may act as

Mola ramsayi) off the Maldives.[7]

Conservation status

In some geographic areas, the schooling bannerfish is harvested for the aquarium trade and is commonly sold as a cheaper alternative to the Moorish idol. However, there do not appear to be any major current threats to this species, and it is listed as

IUCN.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165683A6090332.en
    . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^
    ISBN 9780691089959
  3. ^ a b Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 2. Fusiliers - Dragonets, Caesionidae - Callionymidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 304-622 p.
  4. ^ Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann, 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth, Australia: University of Hawai'i Press, Volumes I-III. Tropical Reef Research.
  5. ISBN 0953909735
  6. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2018). "Heniochus diphruetes" in FishBase. December 2018 version.
  7. ^ Bray, D.J. (2018). "Heniochus diphreutes". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 25 November 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heniochus diphreutes.
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