Alerts

Please be advised that our bird aviaries are open!

Your Toronto Zoo is committed to the health and safety of the animals in our care. We take proactive steps to protect our birds from Avian Influenza which has been confirmed in a wild bird in southern Ontario, and some birds may still be off display.

Please note Splash Island is still closed and will not open until July due to unforeseen delays in construction. Please watch for updates on https://www.torontozoo.com/tz/splash or on our social media pages. Thank you!

Please note the following animals are currently not on display due to various reasons including Avian Bird Flu, and Covid-19 sensitivity:

Flamingo, peacock, owl, bald eagle, and aviaries
Some Kids Zoo Animals
Cougar
Moose
Kangaroo walk through (kangaroos are still visible)
Axolotl

We apologize for the inconvenience!

Fish

Location at the Zoo:
Australasia
Region: Australasia

Pennant coral fish

This fish has a very elongated white dorsal filament. The background colour is white with two broad black bands on the sides extending onto adjacent fins. Pectoral, soft dorsal and caudal fins are yellowish, pelvic fins are black. Black marks are located above the eyes and the top of the snout. It grows up to 25 cm.

Conservation Status: IUCN

Distribution:

It is widespread throughout the Indo-west and central Pacific, from East Africa and the Arabian Gulf to the Society Islands, north to southern Japan and south to Lord Howe Island (including the Great Barrier Reef).

Habitat:

Lagoons and outer reef slopes, from 2 - 75 m, usually below 10 m. Inhabit shallower waters in protected reef areas.

Diet:

They feed mostly on plankton and coral, but supplement their diet with benthic (bottom dwelling) invertebrates. Juveniles are solitary and have been observed picking parasites from other fishes.

Reproduction:

Eggs float to the surface as they are laid and hatch approximately 18 – 30 hours later. Larvae go through a stage known as Tholichthys, where they are covered with bony plates and are pelagic (at the mercy of ocean currents) for periods ranging from a few weeks to several months.

Adaptation:

The elongated dorsal fin acts to draw predators away from the body of the fish. The stripe through the eye camouflages the eye and confuses predators. They have a long snout, and bristle like teeth allowing them to reach their main food source present in crevices in coral reefs. They also swim in large schools for protection.

Threats to Survival:

This species is intensively harvested for the aquarium trade within the Philippines.