Scientific Name
Naso elegans

Common Name
Elegant unicornfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-30; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 27 - 30. Dorsal fin yellow with a blue line at base and a black band above this; anal and pelvic fins dark brown; dorsal and anal fins with a narrow blue margin and black submarginal line; caudal fin yellowish with black upper and lower margins and a submarginal black band posteriorly (Ref. 37792). Caudal fin emarginate with adult males having trailing filaments from each corner (Ref. 37792).

Classification

Classified By

R?ppell, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)

Distribution

Region

Indian Ocean

Distribution

Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa and east through the islands of the western Indian Ocean to southwestern Indonesia, at least to Bali. Not reported from the Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, or India. Previously considered the Indian Ocean color variant of Naso lituratus.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - ? m (Ref. 48637)

Trophic Level

2 s.e. 0.00 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

45.0 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (47 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated