Horseface unicornfish (Naso fageni)

Scientific name: Naso fageni Morrow, 1954

The Horseface unicornfish (Naso fageni) is a marine fish of the family Acanthuridae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 23 - 25. Olivaceous grey in color; adults with small dusky spots and large specimens with a short protuberance above upper lip. Body ovate and compressed.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Naso fageni
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 80.0
Depth range: 3–35 m (10–115 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 35 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: Kenya south to Bazaruto Islands (Mozambique), Aldabra and Seychelles, and east to the Philippines. Reported from southern Japan and Indonesia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026