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Moorish Idol

Moorish Idol line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Moorish Idol full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Moorish Idol was completed on 9.10.2011. I had spent the previous day trying to design and illustrate a tattoo of some kelp. And it didn't work after many hours of trying. So I shelved it, and cranked out a drawing of a Moorish Idol instead - which I had meant to draw for some time. The drawing is based on a photo by Felicia McCaulley

Information about the Moorish Idol:

The Moorish Idol is a small marine fish native to the shallow and warm tropical lagoons and coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Gulf of California southwards down to Peru in South America. They can be social fish, often schooling in small numbers although they are often encountered alone. Moorish Idols in the wild feed on sponges, tunicates (underwater saclike filter feeders) and other benthic invertebrates They are popular aquarium fish and are often found in large saltwater tanks, although they can be difficult to maintain, requiring a very large tank. Sometimes captive Moorish Idols will not eat and starve themselves, so they are not recommended for beginning aquarists.