Scientific Name
Naso vlamingii

Common Name
Bignose unicornfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-27; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 27 - 29. Adults develop a convexly rounded prominent snout and unusually tall dorsal and anal fins. Side of body with vertical blue lines which break up into small blue spots dorsally and ventrally. A broad blue band extending from eye to front of rostral protuberance (Ref 9808).

Classification

Classified By

Valenciennes, 1835

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-pan-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-pan-Pacific: East Africa to the Galapagos Is. north to southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia, Tuamotus, throughout Micronesia

Range

30°N - 30°S, 30°E - 89°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 50 m (Ref. 9710), usually 1 - 50 m (Ref. 27115)

Trophic Level

2.16 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

60.0 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

Moderate vulnerability (38 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.264; Tmax=45)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)