Pennant coralfish
Heniochus acuminatus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Pennant coralfish
- Scientific
- Heniochus acuminatus
- Dhivehi
- ދިދަމަސް ބިބީDhidhamas bibee
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 25 cm (total length); commonly 15 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 2 to 178 m (usually 15 to 75 m); also enters brackish water
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2009
Description
A white butterflyfish with two broad black diagonal bands, yellow rear fins and a very long white streamer trailing from the dorsal fin. It lives in pairs in deep lagoons, channels and outer slopes and feeds on zooplankton close to the reef. It is very similar to the schooling bannerfish, which has a shorter snout and lives in large groups.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi Wikipedia (MRS-derived) gives dhidhamas bibee.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Heniochus-acuminatus.html
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ދިދަމަސް_ބިބީ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Heniochus_acuminatus,_jeune_individu.jpg
Dhivehi name source: Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ދިދަމަސް ބިބީ' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition). No published Latin-script form found; 'Dhidhamas bibee' is Pax's transliteration of the Thaana (Malé Latin conventions). FishBase also lists 'Chinganchena', 'Didanegi' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used. FLAG: Latin form is a transliteration, not a published spelling.