Moorish Idol
Zanclus cornutus
Sighting evidence at Hiroshi Point, Kosrae
Photo: David R · CC BY-NC
Moorish idols drift through the coral gardens at Hiroshi Point in pairs and loose groups of five to ten individuals, picking sponges and encrusting organisms from the reef with their long, brush-like snouts. Their distinctive black, white, and yellow banding makes them one of the reef's most recognisable species, and their abundance at Hiroshi Point reflects the high sponge density that comes with pristine water quality. Photographers frequently spend an entire dive in the 8 to 12 meter zone following pairs through the staghorn forest.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Moorish Idol is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.