Moorish Idol

Photo: Carlos Domínguez-Rodríguez · CC BY-NC

Moorish idols congregate around La India in loose groups of 5 to 30 individuals, grazing on encrusting sponges and bryozoans across the pinnacle's upper surfaces. Their elongated dorsal filament and bold black-and-yellow banding make them one of the most visually striking species on the reef. Spawning aggregations form near the surface in late summer, drawing the fish into unusually dense, photogenic clusters.