Conspicuous fish with 3 broad black bars and 2 yellow to white bars, a long, thin and wavering dorsal fin filament and protruding snout. They can be seen in pairs or groups, sometimes solitary.

Unassessed by the IUCN Red list.

Indo-Pacific. East Africa to Rapa and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to the Lord Howe Island. Eastern Pacific: southern Gulf of California down south to Peru. They live in murky lagoons, reef flats and outer reefs, in a depth range 5-180 meters.

Moorish idols have a long larval stage before they turn into juveniles at a size of 7,5cm.