- Size
- To about 22 cm
- Snorkel or dive
- Snorkel and dive.
- Best season
- Year-round.
- Conservation
- Least Concern (IUCN).
How to recognise it
A disc-shaped fish with bold black, white and yellow bars and a long, trailing white filament streaming from the dorsal fin.
Behaviour in the wild
Roams reef slopes singly, in pairs or small groups, probing crevices for sponges and invertebrates with its long snout.
Where to see it in the Maldives
Reef slopes, lagoon reefs and thila tops across every atoll.
Visual field notes
See moorish idol from more than one angle.
One verified identification image is currently available.
01 · Field portrait · Species reference
Field notes
The Moorish idol is the only living member of its family — and the model for 'Gill' in Finding Nemo.
Profile references
References are shown transparently; profile copy may also include editorial synthesis. Seasons and sightings vary with wild conditions.
