Heniochus


Heniochus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, butterflyfishes from the family Chaetodontidae. They are native to the Indo-Pacific. Though very similar in appearance to the Moorish idol , the members of this genus are not closely related to it.

Characteristics

Heniochus species are distinguished within the Chaetodontidae by having the fourth spine in the dorsal fin elongated, or even forming a filament. The supraorbital crests in adults have spines or horn-like protuberances. They normally have a hump, or at least a robust bony growth on the nape.

Etymology

Heniochus is Greek for a “carriage driver” or “coachman” and is a reference to the long, filamentous 4th dorsal spine of these fish, resembling the whip of a coachman.

Species

There are currently eight recognized species in this genus:
SpeciesCommon nameImage
Heniochus acuminatus
Pennant coralfish
Heniochus chrysostomus
G. Cuvier, 1831		Threeband pennantfish
Heniochus diphreutes
D. S. Jordan, 1903		False moorish idol
Heniochus intermedius
Steindachner, 1893		Red Sea bannerfish
Heniochus monoceros
G. Cuvier, 1831		Masked bannerfish
Heniochus pleurotaenia
C. G. E. Ahl, 1923		Phantom bannerfish
Heniochus singularius
H. M. Smith & Radcliffe, 1911		Singular bannerfish
Heniochus varius
Horned bannerfish