Moorish idol

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Moorish idol

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Suborder: Acanthuroidei
Family: Zanclidae
Genus: Zanclus
Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1831
Species:
Z. cornutus
Binomial name
Zanclus cornutus
Synonyms[2]
  • Chaetodon cornutus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Chaetodon canescens Linnaeus, 1758
  • Zanclus canescens (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus) is a species of marine

ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zanclidae. It is the only member of the monospecific genus Zanclus and the only extant species within the Zanclidae. This species is found on reefs in the Indo-Pacific
region.

Taxonomy

The Moorish idol was first formally

caudal peduncle is a clear difference between this species and the surgeonfishes. However, Eozanclus brevirostris, an extinct species from the Eocene that is a close relative of the Moorish idol seems to be intermediate between the surgeonfishes and the Moorish idol.[7]

Etymology

Moorish idol's unusual name was apparently given to it because in some areas of south-east Asia fishermen have respect for these fishes releasing them when caught and honouring them with a bow after their release.

Ancient Greek word zanklon, meaning "sickle", and is an allusion to the long curved dorsal fin. The specific name, cornutus, means "horned", and refers to the small bony protuberances over the eyes.[10]

Description

The Moorish idol's body is highly compressed and disc-like in shape with a tube-like snout and small bony protruberances above the eyes in adults. The mouth is small and has many long, bristle like teeth.

caudal fin is black with a white margin.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The Moorish idol has a wide range in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are found from the eastern coast of Africa between Somalia and South Africa east to

benthopelagic
fish which is found at depths between 3 and 182 m (9.8 and 597.1 ft) in turbid lagoons, over reef flats and in the clear water on rocky and coral reefs.

Biology

Moorish idols feed on

benthic invertebrates.[12] They are normally found in small groups of 2 or 3 individuals but they can also be solitary or gather in large schools. They have a long pelagic larval stage and this is why they are so widespread and geographically uniform.[2] These fishes are pelagic spawners the males and females release sperm and eggs into the water and the eggs drift away on the current following fertilisation.[12]

In the aquarium

A comparison of the three remarkably similar fish: the Moorish idol (left), schooling bannerfish (top) and pennant coralfish (bottom)

Moorish idols are notoriously difficult to maintain in captivity. They require large tanks, often exceeding 380 L (84 imp gal; 100 US gal),[13] are voracious eaters, and can become destructive.[13]

Some aquarists prefer to keep substitute species that look very similar to the Moorish idol. These substitutes are all butterflyfishes of the genus

false Moorish idol, H. diphreutes.[citation needed
]

Moorish idols typically are very picky eaters. They will either eat no food and perish, or eat everything all at once.[13]

Timeline

QuaternaryNeogenePaleogeneHolocenePleist.Plio.MioceneOligoceneEocenePaleoceneZanclusQuaternaryNeogenePaleogeneHolocenePleist.Plio.MioceneOligoceneEocenePaleocene


In popular culture

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69741115A69742744.en
    . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Zanclus cornutus" in FishBase. February 2023 version.
  3. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Zanclus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  4. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Zanclidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  5. PMID 25543675
    .
  6. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6
    .
  7. ^ a b c d e f Kenneth Wingerter (24 October 2012). "Aquarium Fish: Reconsidering the Moorish Idol". reefs.com.
  8. ^ "IDOLE MAURE Zanclus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758) N° 2225". doris.ffessm.fr (in French). Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  9. ^ Susan Scott (22 February 2016). "Common name for this fish is in need of an origin story". susanscott.net. Honolulu Star and Advertiser. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  10. ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (12 January 2021). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 2): Families EPHIPPIDAE, LEIOGNATHIDAE, SCATOPHAGIDAE, ANTIGONIIDAE, SIGANIDAE, CAPROIDAE, LUVARIDAE, ZANCLIDAE and ACANTHURIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  11. ^ a b Bray, D.J. (2018). "Zanclus cornutus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Moorish idol". The Dallas World Aquarium. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  13. ^ a b c "How to Care for One of the Most Difficult Aquarium Fish".
  14. ^ "Willem Dafoe Returns For 'Finding Dory': 'It's Even Better Than The First'". The Inquisitr. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moorish_idol&oldid=1219600355"