Heniochus

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Heniochus
Pennant coralfish, Heniochus acuminatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Heniochus
G. Cuvier, 1816
Type species
Chaetodon macrolepidotus
Linnaeus, 1758[1]
Synonyms[1]

Heniochus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, butterflyfishes from the family Chaetodontidae. They are native to the Indo-Pacific. Though very similar in appearance to the Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus), the members of this genus are not closely related to it.

Characteristics[edit]

Heniochus species are distinguished within the Chaetodontidae by having the fourth spine in the dorsal fin elongated, or even forming a filament. The supraorbital crests in adults have spines or horn-like protuberances. They normally have a hump, or at least a robust bony growth on the nape.[2]

Etymology[edit]

Heniochus is Greek for a “carriage driver” or “coachman” and is a reference to the long, filamentous 4th dorsal spine of these fish, resembling the whip of a coachman.[3]

Species[edit]

There are currently eight recognized species in this genus:[4]

Pictorial identification[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Chaetodontidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  2. ^ R. Pyle (2001). Kent E. Carpenter; Volker H. Niem (eds.). CHAETODONTIDAE (PDF). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Vol. 5: Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae). FAO, Rome. ISBN 92-5-104302-7.
  3. ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (21 July 2020). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 1): Families LOBOTIDAE, POMACANTHIDAE, DREPANEIDAE and CHAETODONTIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). Species of Heniochus in FishBase. February 2013 version.