scubaseason
Least Concern· population stable· assessed 2016

Moorish idol

Zanclus cornutus

Sighting evidence at Sunayama Reef Okinawa, Okinawa

Moorish idol

Photo: David R · CC BY-NC

An iconic shallow-reef fish whose elongated dorsal fin and bold black, white, and yellow banding make it one of the most recognisable coral-reef species. Moorish idols graze on sponges and help control benthic communities across Indo-Pacific reefs.

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.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites