H a w ait an F i s h e s 



249 



THE MOORISH IDOL FISH FAMILY 



103 family Zanclidae 



This family includes but a single individual related in many ways 

 to the family of the butterfly fishes. The form of the body is more 

 exaggerated than in the butterfly fishes, the scales are reduced to a fine 

 shagreen, and two bony horns grow out over the eyes in the adults. 



The single species in the family is widely distributed among the rocky 

 islands of the Pacific Ocean. 



Moorish Idol or Kihikihi Loulu 



103-1 Zanck/s canescens (Linne) 



Plate VI, Figure 5 



Drawn from Jordan & Evermonn 



The body of the moorish idol is brilliantly marked with vertical, black, 

 yellow and white bands. The body is greatly flattened and bears a rather 

 remarkable long high dorsal fin. It reaches a length of about seven inches. 



This fish is much used by artists, sign painters, and decorators as an 

 inspiration for their designs. 



A handsome fish, it is common about our reefs and is often seen in 

 the markets. 



This fish is distributed from Zanzibar and Mauretius through the 

 Indian Ocean, the East Indies, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, and 

 from the coast of Japan to the islands off the coast of Mexico. 



