Treasures of Hawai‘i
Bishop Museum
The State Museum of Natural and Cultural History
Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Pennant Butterflyfish

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This Pennant Butterflyfish is one of the Bishop Museum's more than 700,000 zoological specimens.

For centuries, scientists believed that two species of Pennant Butterflyfish were the same. Then a Bishop Museum ichthyologist (fish scientist) discovered that there was one slight difference -- one species had 11 spines in the dorsal fin, and the other had 12 spines. Further study showed that the two species lived in distinct geographical areas. Careful observation had led to the discovery of a new species!

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BISHOP MUSEUM
The State Museum of Natural and Cultural History
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Bishop Museum 1525 Bernice Street Honolulu Hawai‘i 96817-0916
Revised March 16, 1997 by jys