Longfin Bannerfish

Photo: Sukinesh · CC BY-NC

Longfin bannerfish are elegant black-and-white butterflyfish that hover in pairs or small loose aggregations around the ledges and overhangs of Sitapur Wall, picking at zooplankton in the water column and occasionally nipping at coral polyps and benthic invertebrates. Their striking elongated dorsal fin gives them an unmistakeable silhouette and their paired behaviour reflects strong long-term monogamous bonding that persists throughout their multi-year lifespan. They serve as mid-trophic consumers transferring energy from coral and plankton to larger predators.