Zanclus cornutus
Moorish idol
Distribution:
Indo-West Pacific
Maximum Size:
9 in (23 cm)
Longevity:
2 to 4 years in the wild (rarely survives more than a year in captivity).
Typical depth:
10–600 ft (3–182 m)
Behavior:
Moorish idols are incredibly active and fast-swimming fish, often seen in pairs or small groups of three, though they occasionally form large schools of over 100 individuals. They prefer flat reef flats and rocky substrates where they can forage for their preferred diet of sponges, tunicates, and other small invertebrates. Because they have a high metabolism, they are constant grazers. While they are bold swimmers, they are known to be quite nervous and will quickly retreat into reef crevices if they feel threatened.
Predators:
Grouper, moray eels and large jacks.
Did you know?
The Moorish idol is the only living member of its entire family, Zanclidae, making it an evolutionary “one-of-a-kind.” It is frequently confused with the Schooling Bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes), but you can tell the Idol apart by its distinct black, yellow, and white vertical bands and its orange saddle-like mark on the snout. Its long, trailing dorsal fin is called a “philament.”
