Pennant Bannerfish, Heniochus chrysostomus (Cuvier, 1831)

Scientific name: Heniochus chrysostomus
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    16/04/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Pennant Bannerfish, <i>Heniochus chrysostomus</i> Click to enlarge image
A Pennant Bannerfish, Heniochus chrysostomus, at a depth of 15m, Rapid Horn, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea, December Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Heniochus
    Species
    chrysostomus
    Family
    Chaetodontidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 18 cm in length.

Introduction

The Pennant Bannerfish has three dark bands crossing the body and a yellow snout. The fish occurs in tropical marine waters of the western and southern Pacific.

Identification

The Pennant Bannerfish can be recognised by its colouration. It is white with a black band crossing the head and extending through the ventral fins. Two brown bands cross the body. The snout is yellow (chryso [Greek] - gold, stoma [Greek] - mouth).

The fourth dorsal fin spine supports an expanded pennant.

Distribution

It is known from the western and southern Pacific. In Australia it is recorded from the central coast of Western Australia around the tropical north (except the Gulf of Carpentaria) and south to Sydney, New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

The Pennant Bannerfish eats mainly coral polyps.

References

  1. Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Brown, R.W. 1956. Composition of Scientific Words. R. W. Brown. Pp. 882.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  6. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.