Long fin banner fish

Scientific name : Heniochus acuminatus

Large (25 cm) butterfly fish, with the typical banner fish dorsal filament. Two black bands, the second starts behind the dorsal filament. Yellow pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins. Black spotted snout and nape, snout elongate.
Usually living along reef front, in pairs or solitary, seldom in groups. Feeds on Plankton, more rarely on benthic invertebrates. Juveniles can act as cleaners, feeding on parasites collected on other fish skin.
Resembles to other Heniochus species. The filament longer than the tail and acute is typical of 2 species, Heniochus acuminatus and Heniochus diphreutes. Compared with H. diphreutes, H. acuminatus is larger, with longer snout, snout and nape spots darker, and usually lives solitary or in pairs.
Often beginners can confuse the Heniochus with the moorish idol Zanclus cornutus (fam. zanclidae). The latter has more rounded shape, snout more elongate. The light band is yellowish, snout and nape have black and orange decorations, tail is black.

Associated organisms
Unknown, juveniles have a generalized symbiosis toward other fish species, that clean from parasites.

Heniochus acuminatus Author MASSIMO BOYER Place: Indonesia, Raja Ampat Id: 1

Heniochus acuminatus Author MASSIMO BOYER Place: Indonesia, Manado Id: 2

Heniochus acuminatus Author MASSIMO BOYER Place: Indonesia, Manado Id: 3

Heniochus acuminatus Author MASSIMO BOYER Place: Indonesia, Manado Id: 4