Orangespine unicornfish (Naso lituratus)

Scientific name: Naso lituratus Forster, 1801

The Orangespine unicornfish (Naso lituratus) is a marine fish of the family Acanthuridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 24–26°C (75–79°F).

Orangespine unicornfish care at a glance

Temperature: 24–26°C (75–79°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28-31; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 29 - 31. Dorsal fin black, the black continuing as a pointed projection onto nape, with a pale blue line at base and a broad outer white zone on soft portion; anal fin mainly orange; dorsal and anal fins with a narrow blue margin and black submarginal line; caudal fin with a yellow submarginal band posteriorly. Caudal fin emarginate with adult males having trailing filaments from each corner.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Naso lituratus
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 46.0
Depth range: 0–90 m (0–295 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 90 m, usually 5 - 30 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Pacific Ocean: Honshu, Japan south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia and east to the Hawaiian Islands, French Polynesia, and Pitcairn. Eastern Pacific: Clipperton Island. Once regarded a wide-ranging Indo-Pacific species, the Indian Ocean population is now recognized as a separate species, Naso elegans.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Venomous
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.3)