Animal Species:Singular Bannerfish, Heniochus singularius Smith & Radcliffe, 1911

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

A Singular Bannerfish at Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

A Singular Bannerfish at Osprey Reef, Coral Sea
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Identification

The side of the Singular Bannerfish has a diffuse white bar with dark scale centres. This is bordered in front and behind by black bars. There is a dark bar through the eye and another encircling the snout.

A white filament extends from the fourth dorsal fin spine. The remainder of the dorsal fin and caudal fin are both yellow.

There is a prominent hump on the nape.

Size range

The species grows to 25 cm in length.

Distribution

The Singular Bannerfish is found in tropical marine waters throughout the Indo-West and Central Pacific. In Australia it occurs from central to north-western Western Australia and from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

Distribution by collection data

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

What does this mean?

Feeding and Diet

It eats coral polyps, benthic invertebrates and algae.

Classification

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

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
  3. 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.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. 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:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Singular Bannerfish, Heniochus singularius, Chaetodontidae,