Scientific Name
Naso brevirostris

Common Name
Spotted unicornfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-29; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 27 - 30. Adults bluish grey to olivaceous brown in color, commonly pale anteriorly and on cheek and throat; short irregular lines on sides of body; diagonal lines on horn; lip edges blue (Ref. 3145). Subadults with dark spots on head and body (Ref. 3145). Juveniles lack the prominent horn of adults (Ref. 1602).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.

Range

29°N - 36°S, 26°E - 137°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

2 m

Depth To - meters

122 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 122 m (Ref. 58302), usually 4 - 46 m (Ref. 27115)

Trophic Level

2.22 s.e. 0.15 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

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

60.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown 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; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (33 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.402; Tmax=25)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30298)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated