Sleek unicornfish
The sleek unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus), also known as the blacktongue unicornfish or ʻopelu kala, is a tropical fish in the family Acanthuridae found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is of value in commercial fisheries and as a gamefish, and is also seen in aquaria.
| Sleek unicornfish | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Acanthuridae |
| Genus: | Naso |
| Species: | N. hexacanthus |
| Binomial name | |
| Naso hexacanthus (Bleeker, 1855) | |
Description
The species does not present a horn like other species in its family. Its colors range from a dark brown to yellow, on occasion changing to blue or silver.[2] Adults measure 75 centimeters in length.[3] The teeth are angled backwards; the tongue is black.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The sleek unicornfish is distributed in the Indo-Pacific, from the Hawaiian islands to Africa and India.[5] It inhabits lagoons and seaward reef slopes.[3] Due to the sleek unicornfish being seen worldwide their conservation status is labeled as least concern.[6]
Ecology
The species consumes plankton and small crustaceans, as well as filamentous algae.[4][6] It is the subject of moderate fisheries.[1]
References
- Choat, J.H.; McIlwain, J.; Abesamis, R.; Clements, K.D.; Myers, R.; Nanola, C.; Rocha, L.A.; Russell, B.; Stockwell, B. (2012). "Naso hexacanthus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- Sutton, Alan (2019-09-12). "Sleek Unicornfish -Facts and Photographs". Seaunseen. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
- Naso hexacanthus (Bleeker, 1855). Retrieved from https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Naso+hexacanthus
- Naso hexacanthus at www.fishbase.org.
- "Naso hexacanthus - Sleek Unicornfish - AquaInfo". aquainfo.org. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
- "Shorefishes - The Fishes - Species". biogeodb.stri.si.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
External links
- Photos of Sleek unicornfish on Sealife Collection