Pennant bannerfish (Heniochus chrysostomus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Chaetodontidae · Genus: Heniochus.

Accepted name: Heniochus chrysostomus · Authority: Cuvier, 1831 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 276748.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chaetodon teatae Curtiss, 1938; Heniochus chrysostomas Cuvier, 1831; Heniochus drepanoides Thiollière, 1857; Heniochus melanistion Bleeker, 1854; Heniochus permutatus Cuvier, 1831.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276748 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Heniochus chrysostomus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 18 cm · Depth range: 2–60 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Common in coral-rich areas of subtidal reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs. Juveniles solitary and usually found in estuaries and lagoons; adults usually in pairs (Ref. 48636).

Feed mainly on coral polyps. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5589) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Heniochus-chrysostomus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

4,115 georeferenced occurrence records for Heniochus chrysostomus are published through GBIF from 36 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 355 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 29 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: French Polynesia (753); Australia (636); New Caledonia (380); Indonesia (290); Fiji (279).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385724) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385724&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276748 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Heniochus chrysostomus Cuvier, 1831 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 165640) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165640/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385724) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385724/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Heniochus chrysostomus is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the central Indo-Pacific from the western coast of India to Polynesia and from south Japan to New-Caledonia.

Heniochus chrysostomus typically inhabits coral-rich areas of reef flats, lagoon and seaward reefs at a depth of 2 - 40 m.

Juveniles are usually found in lagoons and estuaries.

Heniochus chrysostomus is a small-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 18 cm. The body is laterally strongly flattened, with a basic white color and three broad oblique brown bands. The first dark brown band runs from the forehead up to the ventral fins, the second from the dorsal fin to the anal fin, the third is adjacent to the dorsal fin. The first rays of the dorsal fin is elongated and looks like a black and white feather.

Head shows a short snout and a small protractile mouth. This bannerfish has a distinctive yellow coloration pattern on the mouth, top of the snout and running between its eyes. The posterior part of its dorsal fin, its caudal fin and the pectoral fins are orange-yellow. Juveniles have an ocellus which is a black spot rimmed with orange-yellow, on the bottom of its anal fin.

Heniochus chrysostomus form pairs during breeding. They mainly fed on coral polyps. Juveniles are solitary.

Heniochus chrysostomus is subject to some fishing activities to collect some specimen for aquarium, there do not appear to be any current threats to this species. However, it is listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Source: Wikipedia: Heniochus chrysostomus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heniochus_chrysostomus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.