Bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis) fish species and information / pictures of Bluespine unicornfish - Naso unicornis

Bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Naso unicornis

Common Name
Bluespine unicornfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-30; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 27 - 30. Presence of a horn or rostrum. Both caudal lobes prolonged into filaments. Adult males tend to have better developed horn, peduncular spines, and caudal filaments than females of the same size. Caudal fin

Classification

Classified By
Forssk?l, 1775
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 (Ref. 3145) to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands. Presence in Somalia to be confirmed (Ref. 30573).
Range
35°N - 33°S

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
26 °C
Water Temperature To
29 °C
Depth From - meters
1 m
Depth To - meters
80 m
Zone
reef-associated
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 80 m (Ref. 9710)
Trophic Level
2.17 s.e. 0.11 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
70.0 cm
Common Length
50.0 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; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Vulnerability
High vulnerability (57 of 100)
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.14)
Threat To Humans
  Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 4795)
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated