Adults inhabit turbid inner lagoons, reef flats, and clear seaward rocky and coral reefs . Benthopelagic . Generally encountered in small groups of 2 or 3 individuals . Adults occur singly, in pairs and occasionally are seen in large schools . They feed on small encrusting animals . Size of metamorphosis from postlarva to juvenile is 7.5 cm . The long pelagic larval stage is the reason for the wide distribution and strong colouration that shows no geographical variation . Popular aquarium fish but rarely survives in tanks . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 39 - 43; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 31 - 37. Strongly compressed discoid body. Tubular snout with a small mouth containing numerous elongate bristle-like teeth. Dorsal spines elongated into a whip-like filament. : short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
Behavioural data for Moorish idol is currently being reviewed.
Diet information for Moorish idol is currently being compiled.
Reproduction data for Moorish idol is currently being compiled.
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 182 m , usually 5 - 182 m . Subtropical; 24°C - 28°C ; 32°N - 37°S, 21°E - 70°W East Africa to Rapa and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to the Lord Howe Island.
small encrusting animals (Ref
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Moorish Idol |
| 🏳️Catalan | Zancle Morisc |
| 🌍CES | bičonoš zobanovitý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Zanclide |
| 🇩🇪German | Halfterfisch |
| 🌍FIJ | tivitivi |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Sarvikala |
| 🇫🇷French | Cocher blanc · Idole maure · Porte-enseigne · Zancle |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | zászlóshal |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Idolo moresco |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Tsunodashi · ツノダシ |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 깃대돔 |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Maskerwimpelvis |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Idolek mauretański |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Ídolo-mourisco · Zanclo-mouro |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Рогатый занкл |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | ídolo moro |
| 🌍TAH | pahara tore |
| 🌍THA | ปลาผีเสื้อเทวรูป · ปลาโนรีเทวรูป |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 角蝶 · 角蝶魚 · 镰鱼 |
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaetodon canescens | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Chaetodon cornutus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Gonopterus moerens | Gronow | 1854 | Synonym |
| Zanclus canescens | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Zanclus centrognathos | Valenciennes | 1831 | Synonym |
| Zanclus cornatus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Zanclus cornotus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Zanclus montrouzieri | Thiollière | 1857 | Synonym |
| Zanclus ruthiae | Bryan | 1906 | Synonym |
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 71 records indexed .
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