moorish idol
<p><font size="3">The <b>moorish idol</b>, <i>Zanclus cornutus</i>, is a small </font><a title="Perciform" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perciform"><font size="3">perciform</font></a><font size="3"> marine </font><a title="Fish" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish"><font size="3">fish</font></a><font size="3">, the sole representative of the family <b>Zanclidae</b> (from the </font><a title="Greek language" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language"><font size="3">Greek</font></a><font size="3">
<i>zagkios</i>, "oblique"). A common inhabitant of tropical to subtropical </font><a title="Reef" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reef"><font size="3">reefs</font></a><font size="3"> and </font><a title="Lagoon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagoon"><font size="3">lagoons</font></a><font size="3">, the moorish idol is notable for its wide distribution throughout the </font><a title="Indo-Pacific" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pacific"><font size="3">Indo-Pacific</font></a><font size="3">. A number of </font><a title="Butterflyfish" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterflyfish"><font size="3">butterflyfishes</font></a><font size="3"> (all of the genus <i><a title="Heniochus" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heniochus">Heniochus</a></i>) closely resemble the moorish idol.</font></p><p><font size="3">It is said the moorish idol got its name from the </font><a title="Moors" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moors"><font size="3">Moors</font></a><font size="3"> of </font><a title="Africa" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa"><font size="3">Africa</font></a><font size="3">, who purportedly believe the fish to be a bringer of happiness. Moorish idols are also popular </font><a title="Aquarium" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium"><font size="3">aquarium</font></a><font size="3"> fish, but despite their popularity, they are notorious for their short aquarium lifespans and difficulty.</font></p><p><span class="mw-headline"><font size="3">Physical description</font></span></p><p><font size="3">With distinctively compressed and disk-like bodies, moorish idols stand out in contrasting bands of black, white and yellow. The fish have relatively small fins, except for the dorsal fin whose 6 or 7 spines are dramatically elongated to form a trailing, </font><a title="Sickle" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle"><font size="3">sickle</font></a><font size="3">-shaped crest. Moorish idols have small terminal mouths at the end of long, tubular snouts; many long bristle-like teeth line the mouth.</font></p><p><font size="3">The eyes are set high on the fish's deeply-keeled bodies; in adults, perceptible bumps are located above each. The </font><a title="Anal fin" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anal_fin"><font size="3">anal fin</font></a><font size="3"> may have 2 or 3 spines. Moorish idols reach a maximum length of 23 </font><a title="Centimetre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centimetre"><font size="3">cm</font></a><font size="3">. The sickle-like dorsal spines actually shorten with age.</font></p><p><a id="Habitat_and_diet" name="Habitat_and_diet"><font size="3"></font></a></p><h2><span class="editsection"><font size="3">[</font><a title="Edit section: Habitat and diet" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moorish_idol&action=edit&section=2"><font size="3">edit</font></a><font size="3">]</font></span><font size="3">
<span class="mw-headline">Habitat and diet</span></font></h2><p><font size="3">Generally denizens of shallow waters, moorish idols prefer flat reefs. The fish may be found at depths from 3 to 180 </font><a title="Metre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre"><font size="3">m</font></a><font size="3">, in both murky and clear conditions. The range of the moorish idol includes </font><a title="East Africa" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Africa"><font size="3">East Africa</font></a><font size="3"> and the </font><a title="Ducie Island" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducie_Island"><font size="3">Ducie Islands</font></a><font size="3">; </font><a title="Hawaii" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii"><font size="3">Hawaii</font></a><font size="3">, southern </font><a title="Japan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan"><font size="3">Japan</font></a><font size="3"> and all of </font><a title="Micronesia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronesia"><font size="3">Micronesia</font></a><font size="3">; they are also found from the southern </font><a title="Gulf of California" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_California"><font size="3">Gulf of California</font></a><font size="3"> south to </font><a title="Peru" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru"><font size="3">Peru</font></a><font size="3">.</font></p><p><a title="Sponge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponge"><font size="3">Sponges</font></a><font size="3">, </font><a title="Tunicate" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunicate"><font size="3">tunicates</font></a><font size="3"> and other </font><a title="Benthic" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benthic"><font size="3">benthic</font></a><font size="3">
</font><a title="Invertebrate" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invertebrate"><font size="3">invertebrates</font></a><font size="3"> constitute the bulk of the moorish idol's diet. Captive kept moorish idols typically are very picky eaters. They will either eat nothing (common) and perish or eat everything (very uncommon). Eating a variety of items is healthy. Even small portions of </font><a title="Avocado" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avocado"><font size="3">avocado</font></a><font size="3"> and </font><a title="Banana" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana"><font size="3">banana</font></a><font size="3"> are sometimes fed in captivity.</font></p><p><a id="Behaviour_and_reproduction" name="Behaviour_and_reproduction"><font size="3"></font></a></p><h2><span class="editsection"><font size="3">[</font><a title="Edit section: Behaviour and reproduction" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moorish_idol&action=edit&section=3"><font size="3">edit</font></a><font size="3">]</font></span><font size="3">
<span class="mw-headline">Behaviour and reproduction</span></font></h2><p><font size="3">Often glimpsed alone, moorish idols will also form pairs or occasionally small schools. They are </font><a title="Diurnal animal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnal_animal"><font size="3">diurnal</font></a><font size="3"> fish, sticking to the bottom of the reef at night and adopting a drab coloration. Like the </font><a title="Butterflyfish" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterflyfish"><font size="3">butterflyfishes</font></a><font size="3">, moorish idols mate for life; as juveniles, they are more apt to school. Adult males tend to be aggressive toward one another.</font></p><p><font size="3">Moorish idols are </font><a title="Pelagic zone" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagic_zone"><font size="3">pelagic</font></a><font size="3"> spawners; that is, eggs and sperm are released in midwater and the fertilized eggs are left to drift away with the currents. The impressive range of these fish may be explained by the unusually long larval stage; the fish reach a length of 7.5 cm before becoming free-swimming juveniles. Before this time, the developing larvae will have drifted considerable distances.</font></p><p><a id="Aquarium_life" name="Aquarium_life"><font size="3"></font></a></p><h2><span class="editsection"><font size="3">[</font><a title="Edit section: Aquarium life" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moorish_idol&action=edit&section=4"><font size="3">edit</font></a><font size="3">]</font></span><font size="3">
<span class="mw-headline">Aquarium life</span></font></h2><div class="thumb tright"><font size="3"></font> </div><p><font size="3">Moorish idols are notorious for being difficult to maintain in captivity. They require enormous tanks, often exceeding 200 </font><a title="Gallon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallon"><font size="3">U.S. gal</font></a><font size="3">, are voracious eaters, and are infamous for becoming incredibly destructive. Their captive survival rate is very low: most do not survive for a full year. Most that live past this mark typically die shortly thereafter. It is not recommended that any aquarist attempt to keep this species, because it is considered cruel by many and is nearly impossible (see diet). To avoid these shortfalls, some aquarists prefer to keep substitute species that look very similar to the Moorish Idol. These substitutes are all butterflyfishes of the genus <i>Heniochus</i>, and include the </font><a title="Pennant coralfish" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennant_coralfish"><font size="3">pennant coralfish</font></a><font size="3">, <i>Heniochus acuminatus</i>; </font><a class="new" title="Threeband pennantfish" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Threeband_pennantfish&action=edit"><font size="3">threeband pennantfish</font></a><font size="3">, <i>H. chrysostomus</i>; and the </font><a class="new" title="False moorish idol" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=False_moorish_idol&action=edit"><font size="3">false moorish idol</font></a><font size="3">, </font><i><font size="3">H.</font>
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