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