Heniochus acuminatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pennant coralfish
Heniochus acuminatus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  25 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 2 - 178 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Persian/Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Tanzania to South Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mascarenes, St Brandon Shoals, Chagos, Maldives and Lakshadweep; elsewhere to Japan, Micronesia, Australia and French Polynesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-27; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 17-19. Description: Snout length 2.7-3.3 in HL; body depth 1.2-1.5 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabit deep, protected lagoons and channels, and the deeper parts of outer reef slopes. Juveniles are often solitary while adults occur in pairs (Ref. 1602, 48636). A planktivorous species that generally remains within a few meters of the reef. Juveniles may sometimes pick on parasites on the epidermis of other fish (Ref. 5503). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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