Dec 2011 POTM - Butterfly Fish

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by titus

Hello,


It shouldn't be. Reply here attaching your photo to your post, and I'll login using your account to test the upload.

Titus

Does that work Titus?

[silentcivilian]

Ohh.. I almost missed this.. My entry!



My close seconds..





Such amazing fish.. I love butterfly's

[MarkoD]

Moorish idol isn't a butterfly

[silentcivilian]

Sorry, I was always get mixed up cause ive dove with the false idols too. But I dont have any pictures of false idols.. Though they are thought to be closely related!

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by silentcivilian

Sorry, I was always get mixed up cause ive dove with the false idols too. But I dont have any pictures of false idols.. Though they are thought to be closely related!

Moorish idol is more closely related to a tang than a butterfly

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

Moorish idol is more closely related to a tang than a butterfly

????? A tang ???? How do you figure that? They are very simular to Heniochus which is a type of butterfly, however they are not actually related. Moorish Idols are related to Eozanclus brevirhostris.

Pic of a Heniochus acuminatus which is considered the "Poor Man's Moorish Idol".


Quote from Wikipedia

"The moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus ("Crowned Scythe"), is a small marine fish species, the sole extant representative of the family Zanclidae (from the Greek zagkios, "oblique") in order Perciform. A common inhabitant of tropical to subtropical reefs and lagoons, the moorish idol is notable for its wide distribution throughout the Indo-Pacific. A number of butterflyfishes (genus Heniochus) closely resemble the moorish idol. It is closely related to, if not a direct descendant of the extinct Eozanclus brevirhostris, from the Middle Eocene of Monte Bolca."

More info.
http://animal-unique.blogspot.com/20...rish-idol.html

[silentcivilian]

Originally Posted by fishoholic

????? A tang ???? How do you figure that? They are very simular to Heniochus which is a type of butterfly, however they are not actually related. Moorish Idols are related to Eozanclus brevirhostris.

Just to put it out there, totally fist pumped there! I read the tang statement and I was like "Whoa?!?" I will have to look into this when I get home from work. But you did it for me! Thanks!

[MarkoD]

"Identification: The Moorish Idol is not an Angelfish, nor a Butterflyfish, but rather a close relative of the Acanthruidae or Surgeonfish family. A one-of-a-kind Zanclidae family member, this fish is also often misidentified as a Pennant or Bannerfish, which are actually species of the Heniochus genus that are commonly referred to as the "False" or "Poor Man's" Moorish Idol."

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/tan...oorishidol.htm

Tangs are Surgeonfish

[silentcivilian]

What have we learned here today. I was wrong, my bad!

Verdict: Not a butterfly, also the Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus) is a small perciform marine fish, the sole representative of the family Zanclidae. So not a tang//surgeonfish for various reasons including its lack of spine on its tail, which defines sugeronfish or Acanthuridae ("thorn tail").

So, back to topic. Did you at least enjoy my photo? I thought it was pretty.

[MarkoD]

I never said it was a tang. Just said it was more closely related to one than too a butterfly