Species profile
Moorish Idol
Zanclus cornutus
Identify Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 2,402 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in Hawaii.
Notable details
- The sole species in family Zanclidae — it has no close living relatives among reef fish.
- Its elongated snout is specialized for probing crevices to extract sponges and tunicates.
- Ranges from the Red Sea across the Indo-Pacific to the Pacific coast of the Americas.
- Nearly impossible to keep in aquariums long-term due to its highly specialized diet.
- Inspired the character Gill in the 2003 animated film Finding Nemo.
Where Moorish Idol are seen
Background
The Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus), is a marine fish species, the sole extant representative of the family Zanclidae (from the Greek ζαγκίος, zagkios, "oblique") in order Perciformes. A common inhabitant of tropical to subtropical reefs and lagoons, the Moorish idol is notable for its wide distribution throughout the Indo-Pacific. A number of butterflyfishes (genus Heniochus) closely resemble…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Moorish Idol article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Moorish Idol?
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for Moorish Idol?
Moorish Idol is Zanclus cornutus.
Are there fishing rules for Moorish Idol?
Moorish Idol does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Moorish Idol?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Moorish Idol along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.