# Moorish idol (*Zanclus cornutus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/moorish-idol  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus), also called Kihikihi, is a bony fish in the family Zanclidae and the order Acanthuriformes. It belongs to the class Teleostei and the genus Zanclus, and its scientific name carries the authority (Linnaeus, 1758). The IUCN Red List assesses the moorish idol globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | coral_reef, marine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Acanthuriformes
- family: Zanclidae
- genus: Zanclus
- species: *Zanclus cornutus* (Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms: *Chaetodon canescens*, *Chaetodon cornutus*, *Gonopterus moerens*, *Zanclus canescens*, *Zanclus centrognathos*, *Zanclus cornatus*, *Zanclus cornotus*, *Zanclus montrouzieri*, *Zanclus ruthiae*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the moorish idol?

The moorish idol is a bony fish. It belongs to the family Zanclidae in the order Acanthuriformes.

### What is the scientific name of the moorish idol?

The scientific name of the moorish idol is Zanclus cornutus, in the genus Zanclus.

### Who named the moorish idol and when?

The authority for Zanclus cornutus is written as (Linnaeus, 1758).

### Is the moorish idol endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List assesses it globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category.

### What is another name for the moorish idol?

The moorish idol is also called Kihikihi.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/moorish-idol