Red Sea bannerfish (Heniochus intermedius)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Heniochus intermedius · Authority: Steindachner, 1893 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218767.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Heniochus intermedium Steindachner, 1893.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218767 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 18 cm · Depth range: 3–50 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Found on coral slopes (Ref. 9710) Juveniles in large groups at base of reef, sometimes with H. diphreutes ; adults usually solitary or paired, occasionally in groups (Ref. 9710). Feed on zooplankton and benthic invertebrates (Ref. 9710). Oviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 12309) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Heniochus-intermedius.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,620 georeferenced occurrence records for Heniochus intermedius are published through GBIF from 15 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 66 distinct locations from a sample of 1,620 records, omitting 13 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: Egypt (1,396); Saudi Arabia (114); Israel (48); Djibouti (16); Jordan (15).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385717) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385717&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218767 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Heniochus intermedius Steindachner, 1893 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 165691) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165691/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385717) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385717/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The Red Sea bannerfish has a deeply compressed body which is coloured pale yellow fading to white on the beck towards the head. There are 2 wide, angled oblique vertical blackish bands, these are darker below and become more diffuse towards the back. The forward band starts at the origin of the dorsal fin, adjacent to or over the eye and runs to the pelvic fin. The rear band starts at the spiny part of the dorsal fin and runs to rear part of the anal fin. The pectoral, the soft part of the dorsal and anal fins and the caudal fin are yellow, while the pelvic fins are black. It has a very elongated white filament extending from the anterior part of the dorsal fin dorsal filament which moves while the fish is swimming, resembling a banner being blown in the wind. The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 25-26 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17-18 soft rays. This species attains as maximum total length of 18 cm.

The Red Sea bannerfish is native to the western Indian Ocean where it is found in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It has been introduced to the waters off south eastern Florida, probably by means of escapes or releases from the aquarium or trade. Recently recorded in the Gulf of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey following a likely introduction via the Suez Canal from the Red Sea, it remains very rare.

The Red Sea bannerfish is associated with coral reefs where it is most frequently recorded as a solitary fish or in pairs, although large schools have been recorded. The juveniles form large schools, particularly in areas of deep reef where there is a low density of corals. They feed on both zooplankton and benthic invertebrates but the extent to which they feed on live coral has still to be determined. It is an oviparous species which forms monogamous pairs for spawning.

The Red Sea bannerfish is collected for the aquarium trade but its collection is of a limited scale and is not believed to be a threat to the species population.

Source: Wikipedia: Red Sea bannerfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sea_bannerfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.