Familiar to snorkelers in Hawaii and throughout the Indo-Pacific is this well-known reef fish, the Moorish Idol, also known as kihikihi, or Zanclus cornutus. Their bright bands of black and white smudged with yellow and their distinctive crested dorsal fin make them a real stand-out. Oh, but not so fast. Enter the Pennant Butterflyfish, another fish found in Hawaiian waters, that at first glance looks so similar you might be in for a case of mistaken identity. Not to worry, today's post will help you to see the Moorish Idol's true colors. For starters, notice the tail colors: the moorish idol sports a black tail trimmed in white while this butterfly species has an all yellow tail. The butterflyfish also lacks the yellow blush in the central band of white. Next observe the snout. The idol has an orange dollop atop the snout; the butterfly's is all white and less pronounced. Another key difference is the scales; they are visible on the butterflyfish, not so much on the idol. Finally, the butterflyfish feeds higher in the water column, while the idol prefers the ocean floor and reef where it feeds on sponges, coral polyps, and tunicates, and other tasty reef treats. The elongated snout is helpful for probing reef crevices for snacks. And while they are much sought after for the home aquarium, they do not tolerate captivity well and are best left in their natural habitat. Remember Gill from the movie "Finding Nemo"? He was a Moorish Idol, and you might recall that his primary goal in life was to escape the tank.
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October 2014
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