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Moorish Idol
Moorish Idol
Scientific Name:
Zanclus cornutus
Types:
Only species in the Zanclidae family
(No subspecies, but often confused with butterflyfish and bannerfish).
Habitat:
Found in
tropical coral reefs
and
lagoon waters
at depths of
3 to 180 feet (1 to 55 meters)
.
Prefers areas with
rich coral growth
and rocky substrates.
Found in
small groups or pairs
, but sometimes seen alone.
Diet:
Omnivorous
– feeds on
sponges, tunicates, algae, and small invertebrates
.
Uses its
long, tubular snout
to forage in coral crevices.
Reproduction:
External fertilization
– eggs are released into open water and hatch into
planktonic larvae
.
Juveniles drift in the
open ocean
before settling in coral reefs.
Spotting Tips:
Look for its
distinctive black, white, and yellow bands
and
elongated dorsal fin
.
Often seen
near reef edges
or in
clear, shallow lagoons
.
Can be mistaken for bannerfish, but has a
more elongated snout and uniform body pattern
.
Countries:
Found in
Indo-Pacific waters
, including
Hawaii, Australia, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean
.
Common around
Fiji, Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Great Barrier Reef
.