Humpback unicornfish (Naso brachycentron)

Scientific name: Naso brachycentron Valenciennes, 1835

The Humpback unicornfish (Naso brachycentron) is a marine fish of the family Acanthuridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 25–28°C (77–82°F). Native range: Indo-Pacific, East Africa to the Marquesan and Society islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Vanuatu.

Humpback unicornfish care at a glance

Temperature: 25–28°C (77–82°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 4 - 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28-30; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 27 - 28. Distinctive humped back; horn only in adult males. A few scattered small dark-edged pale spots on postorbital head and body above pectoral fins. No white margin posteriorly on caudal fin. Profile of snout from mouth to eye strongly sloping, forming an angle of about 40? to horizontal axis of body (Ref 9808).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Naso brachycentron
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 90.0
Depth range: 2–20 m (7–66 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 20 m, usually 15 - 20 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Marquesan and Society islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Vanuatu.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.429; Tmax=31)