WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Humpback Unicornfish

Naso brachycentron

Also known as: Doctorfish, Humpback Unicorn, Lancetfish, Ring-tailed Unicornfish, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Makunudu, Maldives · August 20071 / 13

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

01

Overview

Found singly, or in small to large schools, over rocky shores and reef slopes, of deep seaward reefs.

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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Head & Mouth
unicorn horn

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 13
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in small to large schools, over rocky shores and reef slopes, of deep seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 13

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderAcanthuriformes
    5. familyAcanthuridae
    6. genusNaso
    7. speciesNaso brachycentron (Valenciennes, 1835)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Surgeonfishes-Tangs-Unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)