Masked Bannerfish, Heniochus monoceros (Cuvier, 1831)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Masked Bannerfish, Heniochus monoceros (Cuvier, 1831)

The Masked Bannerfish can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. The species occurs in tropical marine waters throughout the Indo-West and Central Pacific.

Identification

The Masked Bannerfish can be recognised by its colouration. It has a black face with white lines above and in front of the eyes. The nape is brown. There is a broad black bar crossing the body from behind the dorsal fin filament to the black pelvic fins.

Size range

The species grows to 23 cm in length.

Distribution

The Masked Bannerfish is found in tropical marine waters throughout the Indo-West and Central Pacific.In Australia it occurs from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef south to central New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Masked Bannerfish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

It eats mostly benthic invertebrates such as polychaete worms.

Classification

Species:: monoceros
Genus:: Heniochus
Family:: Chaetodontidae
Order:: Perciformes
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 12 April 2011

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