Heniochus pleurotaenia Ahl, 1923
Phantom bannerfish
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  17 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 25 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: Maldives and Sri Lanka to Java, north to the Andaman Sea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-25; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 17-18. Description: Juveniles have a short white banner (Ref. 48636). Snout length 2.7-3.2 in HL; body depth 1.4-1.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabit coral-rich areas of lagoon and seaward reef (Ref. 9710). Found in pairs or aggregations (Ref. 9710). In Indonesia usually seen in pairs in coastal waters. Offshore it may form schools and in the Maldives they occur in great numbers. Found at various depths, often on shallow reef crest with some surge. Usually in mixed algae and coral habitats to about 15 m depth, but may go offshore (Ref. 48636). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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