Description
Also known as Brown Unicornfish, Doctorfish, Lancetfish, Lined Unicornfish, Longnose Doctorfish, Longnose Unicornfish, Long-snouted Unicornfish, Palefin Unicornfish, Paletail Unicornfish, Shortnose Unicornfish, Short-nosed Kala, Short-nosed Unicorn Tang, Shortsnout Unicornfish, Short-snouted Unicornfish, Spotted Unicorn, Spotted Unicorn Tang, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish, Unicorn Surgeonfish, Unicorn Naso Tang.
Found in small to large schools, mid-water, over rocky shores of reef drop-offs, along current swept, steep outer lagoons and seaward reefs. Can quickly change colour with mood or when alarmed.
They feed on benthic algae and zooplankton.
Length - 50cm
Depth - 2-120m
Widespread Eastern Central Pacific, Indo-Pacific
Surgeonfish have a blade like spine in the tail that points outwards when bent, unicorns have two hook-like plates along the tail, these are used for defence and are as sharp as a surgeons scalpel, hence the name "Surgeonfish".
Some species are venomous. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Naso-brevirostris
4 comments
Posted by @fishx6Unicornfish noses will vary in length depending on age and their colours change with mood and if they feel threatened and most probably when mating!
Posted by AnneFinally! Something actually helpful on Spotted Unicorn Fish!
Posted by garryi went to the maldives recently andd saw a simalar fish, but the one i saw had a loger unicorn thing, and had more blad colours..:)
Posted by EdenI have to write a paper on the Spotted Unicornfish. This really helped!