Moorish idol
Zanclus cornutus
Valid name. Zanclus canescens is a synonym (once thought to be a separate species, later shown to be the juvenile form).
- English
- Moorish idol
- Scientific
- Zanclus cornutus
- Dhivehi
- ދިދަ މަސްDhidha mas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Family
- Zanclidae (Moorish idol)
- Maximum size
- About 22-23 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Reef flats, lagoons and reef slopes, from the surface to about 180 m (usually shallower than 50 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
A disc-shaped fish with broad black and white vertical bars, a yellow patch towards the tail, a long tubular snout and a very long, white, streaming dorsal fin. It is the only member of its family. It feeds mainly on sponges, picking them from crevices with its narrow snout, along with other small invertebrates and algae. Moorish idols are often confused with bannerfishes (Heniochus), which have a similar shape but lack the orange-yellow snout saddle and tubular mouth.
In the Maldives
Common on almost every Maldivian reef, usually in pairs or small groups. The Dhivehi name means 'flag fish', after the long trailing dorsal fin.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Zanclus-cornutus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=5950&GenusName=Zanclus&SpeciesName=co
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ދިދަ_މަސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Ídolo_moro_(Zanclus_cornutus),_Anilao,_Filipinas,_2023-08-2
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives, Marine Research Section, Malé (FAO/BOBP MAG/21); Thaana from Dhivehi Wikipedia (fish articles derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition). FishBase also lists 'Thun bibi'.