Moorish idol
Scientific name : Zanclus cornutus
Deep, rounded and laterally compressed body, elongated tube-like mouth, long dorsal and anal fins, especially the dorsal with a very long filament. Typical colour pattern with 2 large black bands separated by a white-yellowish band, Black tail, a typical yellow and black saddle on the snout. 16 cm. Usually in small groups, occasionally it can be seen in schools. It feeds on sponges, also on algae and other invertebrates.
It has a very long larval life, during which it travels over long distances.
Zanclus cornutus is often confused with the Chaetodontidae Heniochus acuminatus and Heniochus diphreutes. Differently from both, Z. cornutus has more elongated snout, fading yellow colour in the clear band, black tail.
Habitat:
Back reef, Coastal bay, Deep reef, Lagoon, Reef external slope, Reef front
Distribution:
Indo-Pacific
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