TAXONOMY

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

Genus/Species: Naso vlamingii

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The Bignose Unicornfish has a convexly rounded prominent snout and extremely tall dorsal and anal fins. A broad blue band extends from eye to front of rostral protuberance. The body is gray, ovate and compressed with blue vertical lines which break up into small blue spots dorsally and ventrally. The tips of the tail fin are unusually long.

Length to 60 cm (23 in)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Found in the Indo-Pacific in deep lagoons and seaward reefs from 4–50 m (12-150 ft) off steep slopes.

DIET IN THE WILD: Omnivorous, feeds on zooplankton.

REPRODUCTION: External fertilization. Egg scatterers, non-guarding. Remarks: Courting males are able to instantaneously turn iridescent blue.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least concern (LC)

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016

fishbase  www.fishbase.org/summary/6024

EOL eol.org/pages/213847/hierarchy_entries/44696490/details

Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608332652056/with/3120136472/

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