Scientific Name
Naso lituratus

Common Name
Orangespine unicornfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28-31; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 29 - 31. Dorsal fin black, the black continuing as a pointed projection onto nape, with a pale blue line at base and a broad outer white zone on soft portion; anal fin mainly orange; dorsal and anal fins with a narrow blue margin and black submarginal line; caudal fin with a yellow submarginal band posteriorly (Ref. 37792). Caudal fin emarginate with adult males having trailing filaments from each corner (Ref. 37792).

Classification

Classified By

Forster, 1801

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)

Distribution

Region

Pacific Ocean

Distribution

Pacific Ocean: Honshu, Japan south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia and east to the Hawaiian Islands, French Polynesia, and Pitcairn. Eastern Pacific: Clipperton Island. Once regarded a wide-ranging Indo-Pacific species, the Indian Ocean population is now recognized as a separate species, Naso elegans.

Range

35°N - 30°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

26 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

90 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 90 m (Ref. 9710), usually 5 - 30 m (Ref. 37792)

Trophic Level

2.32 s.e. 0.19 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

46.0 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: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (34 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.3)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 4716)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated