TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)

Genus/species: Naso lituratus

IMG_5124

Photo above Male

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The Orange Spine Unicornfish is a hornless unicornfish. Coloration varies among populations. A prominent vertical black stripe from eyes to mouth is present on its face. The continuous unnotched dorsal fin is black with with a pale blue line at base and a broad outer white zone. The anal fin is orange.  The bright orange caudal peduncule has two forward-directed venomous knife-like keeled bony plates.   The caudal fin is emarginate (slight inward curve) with adult males having trailing filaments from each corner.

Length to 46 cm (18 inches)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific over coral, rock or rubble of lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to 90 m (300 ft). Introduced Florida and Georgia.

DIET IN THE WILD: Primarily leafy brown algae especially Sargassum spp.

REPRODUCTION: Fertilization is external with open water pair spawning. Nonguarders

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least Concern (LC)

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016

Rons flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/2979734770/in/set 72157608332652056

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink   http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-HQ

fishbase  http://www.fishbase.org/summary/1264

USGS  http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=2553

IUCN www.iucnredlist.org/details/177950/0