Domain |    Eukarya |
Kingdom |    Animalia |
Phylum |    Chordata |
Family |    Zanclidae |
Description |    Moorish idol |
Environment |    Marine |
Etymology |    Zanclidae: Greek, zagkios, -os, -on = oblique |
Genus |    1 |
No. of Species |    1 |
Order |    Perciformes |
Class |    Actinopterygii |
Reproductive Guild |    Nonguarders |
Distribution |    Indo-pan-Pacific. Monotypic. Strongly compressed discoid body. Tubular snout with a small mouth containing numerous elongate bristle-like teeth. Dorsal spines elongated into a whip-like filament. Common inhabitant of coral reefs. It has a long larval stage and settles at a large size (> 6 cm SL), resulting in a widespread distribution. Included by some authors in Acanthuridae from which it differs mainly in lacking a peduncular spine. Pelagic spawner; larvae drift for a long time before settlement, resulting in a wide distribution. Feed on mainly on sponges, also benthic invertebrates. Difficult to maintain (feed) in the aquarium. |
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