WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Slender Unicornfish

Naso lopezi

Also known as: Bluespot Naso Tang, Bluespot Tang, Bluespot Unicornfish, Doctorfish, Elongate Unicornfish, Lancetfish, Lopez's Unicornfish, Slender Unicorn, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@yuckfou · Indonesia · March 20131 / 2
01

Overview

Found in large schools in areas with strong current over steep outer reef drop-offs of coastal reefs.
Sometimes display a white patch around pectoral fin.

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
Behaviour
schooling

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found in large schools in areas with strong current over steep outer reef drop-offs of coastal reefs.

04

Adult photos 2

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 lopezi Herre, 1927

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Surgeonfishes-Tangs-Unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)