Hemigymnus

Strip Bannerlippfisch ( Hemigymnus fasciatus ) adult male

Hemigymnus is a genus of Junkerlippfische ( Julidinae ). There are only two species that are widespread in the Red Sea and the tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific.

Features

Hemigymnus species are 45 to 50 inches long. They have a beefy, high-backed compared to other Junkerlippfischen body and a big head. The mouth is terminal, pointed, and has thick, fleshy lips. They are distinctively marked black and white, H. fasciatus with a pattern of vertical stripes in H. melapterus head and front body are white, the rear body black ( means hemigymnus [ from Greek ] " half naked "). On head and fins and yellow colors may occur. Young fish that are smaller than 40 mm, have a cryptic to.

Way of life

Hemigymnus species live as a loner on the edge of rock and coral reefs over sand and gravel soils. They eat various small invertebrates, which they out of the sand, they take up and chew with their mouths, out seven. Young fish hide with their characteristic swimming behavior, with the head down, between long spiny sea urchins.

Species

• Strip Bannerlippfisch ( Hemigymnus fasciatus ) ( Bloch, 1792)
• Two-color Bannerlippfisch ( Hemigymnus melapterus ) ( Bloch, 1791)