Moorish Idol: The Reef's Most Elegant Fish

With bold black, white, and yellow bands and a long, trailing dorsal streamer, the Moorish idol is one of the most elegant fish on any reef. It's unmistakable once you've seen it — and a highlight of snorkeling near Jacó. Here's how to spot one, plus five fun facts.

Moorish Idol · Zanclus cornutus

How to spot the moorish idol near Jacó

Look for a tall, disk-shaped fish banded in black, white, and yellow, with a long streamer flowing off its back as it swims. The Moorish idol moves gracefully around the rocky reef, and its striking pattern makes it impossible to confuse with anything else.

5 fun facts about the moorish idol

• One of a kind. The Moorish idol is the only living member of its family, Zanclidae — it has no close living relatives anywhere in the ocean.
• That trailing streamer. The long, whip-like extension of its dorsal fin is called a filament, and it flows dramatically behind the fish as it swims.
• Not actually a butterflyfish. It looks like a bannerfish or butterflyfish, but it's more closely related to the surgeonfish and tangs.
• Named by sailors. The name is said to come from the Moors, who were believed to regard the fish as a bringer of happiness.
• A famous face. If it looks familiar, that's because 'Gill' from Finding Nemo is a Moorish idol.

The moorish idol is just one of many characters down there. See the whole cast in our Snorkel Jaco fish directory, or read real guest photos and reviews on the Snorkel Jaco reviews.