Bluespine Unicornfish, Naso unicornis (Forsskål, 1775)
Blue-spine Unicorn, Brown Unicornfish, Longnose Unicornfish, Spotted Unicornfish
Click to enlarge image
© Erik Schlögl
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Naso
- Species
- unicornis
- Family
- Acanthuridae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 70 cm in length.
Introduction
The Bluespine Unicornfish is usually greenish-grey and has a bony horn projecting from the head in front of the eyes. It is found in tropical reef waters.
Identification
The Bluespine Unicornfish has a bony horn projecting from the head in front of the eyes. There are two blue plates bearing knife-like spines on either side of the caudal peduncle. The tail is emaringate (glossary) in young fish but becomes truncate with filamentous lobes in larger individuals.
The Bluespine Unicornfish is usually greenish-grey. The dorsal and anal fins are yellowish with thin blue lines.
Distribution
The species is found in tropical reef waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is recorded from south-western to north-western Western Australia and the northern Great Barrier Reef to northern New South Wales.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
