Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
This species is characterized by the following: body depth vary from about 2.0 in SL (in subadults) to 2.4-2.6 (adults) in SL; with a tapering, bony, horn on forehead of adults projecting anteriorly at level of eye but not extending in front of mouth (horn first as a bump on forehead at a length of about 12 cm); dorsal profile from snout to horn straight, angle of about 45°; 2 peduncular plates with well-developed forward-curving knife-like spines; emarginate caudal fin when young, truncate with filamentous lobes in adult; males apparently with longer horn, larger peduncular keels and longer caudal filaments than females of the same size; body yellowish to olivaceous gray dorsally, paler ventrally, with blue peduncular plates and keel spines; lips whitish or blue; blue area is sometimes present around pectoral fin; dorsal and anal fins yellowish with narrow blue margins; caudal fin orangish basally, shading to gray, with a broad, pale greenish posterior border and caudal filaments are edged in blue; one transient color phase is a blotchy pale greenish zone below the spinous portion of dorsal fin that narrows and ends beneath the pectoral fin (Ref. 27362).
Diseases and Parasites
provided by Fishbase
Hexangium Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
Life Cycle
provided by Fishbase
Spawn in pairs (Ref. 240).
Morphology
provided by Fishbase
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27 - 30; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 27 - 30
Trophic Strategy
provided by Fishbase
Inhabits channels, moats, lagoon and seaward reefs with strong surge. Typically occurring in small groups. Juveniles in shallow protected bays and harbours (Ref. 48637). Mainly diurnal. Feeds on coarse leafy brown algae like Sargassum. Large adults sometimes solitary at edge of reef (Ref. 3921).
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Adults inhabit channels, moats, lagoon and seaward reefs with strong surge (Ref. 48637). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Typically occurring in small groups. Sometimes solitary (Ref. 90102). Juveniles in shallow protected bays and harbours (Ref. 48637). Mainly diurnal, feed on coarse leafy brown algae like Sargassum. Pair-spawning has been observed.
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
分布
provided by The Fish Database of Taiwan
分布於印度-太平洋區，西起紅海、非洲東部，東至馬貴斯及土木土群島，北至日本南部，南至羅得豪及拉帕群島。台灣各地海域以及離島之礁岸區均有記錄。
利用
provided by The Fish Database of Taiwan
一般以流刺網、延繩釣或潛水鏢魚法等捕獲。觀賞及食用兼具。剝皮後，煮薑絲湯，肉質鮮美。尾柄上骨質盾板非常銳利，易傷人，處理時需小心。
描述
provided by The Fish Database of Taiwan
體呈橢圓形而側扁；尾柄部有二個盾狀骨板，各有一個龍骨突。頭小，隨著成長，在眼前方之額部逐漸突出而形成長而鈍圓之角狀突起，其長度與吻長略同，吻背朝後上方傾斜，直到角突處為止。口小，端位，上下頜各具一列齒，齒稍側扁且尖銳，兩側或有鋸狀齒。背鰭及臀鰭硬棘尖銳，分別具VI棘及II棘，各鰭條皆不延長；尾鰭截平，上下葉緣延長如絲。體呈藍灰色，腹側則為黃褐色，尾柄上的骨質板為藍黑色。背鰭與臀鰭有數條暗色縱線，並具藍緣。
棲地
provided by The Fish Database of Taiwan
主要棲息於水道、潟湖、礁岸、礁區斜坡或有拂浪處。幼魚於礁區上方活動，成魚則大多成小群活動。一般在淺水域活動，最大深度可達180公尺左右。繁殖季節時則會成對出現。以粗糙多葉的褐藻類為食，例如馬尾藻。
Bluespine unicornfish
provided by wikipedia EN
A pair of bluespine unicornfish (
Naso unicornis) found in shallow water coral reef area of Green Island, a coral reef ecosystem reserve in Taiwan
The bluespine unicornfish or short-nose unicornfish (Naso unicornis) is a tang from the Indo-Pacific.[2] It is occasionally found in the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 70 cm in length. It is called kala (meaning "thorn") in Hawaii,[2] dawa in New Caledonia, and ta or tā in Fiji.[3]
Description
The bluespine unicornfish has a blueish-gray body with two blue spines on each side at the base of the tail and a short rostrum or bony horn on the forehead.[2][4] In small fish the horn is missing and males additionally have tail streamers.[2] These fish have a leather-like skin instead of scales. The bluespine unicornfish can grow up to 27 inches with the largest one caught to be 12.7 lbs.[5][6][2]
Distribution
The bluespine unicornfish is very common in the tropical Indo-Pacific region usually occurring at temperatures between 77 and 85 F.[6]
Habitat
The bluespine unicornfish are a near shore fish. The juvenile tend to stay close to shore while the adults tend to live from shallow to the beginnings of the deep water staying within the upper 40 feet.[6] They tend to enjoy spots with waves or strong surges.[7] The bluespine unicornfish live often solitary on coral reefs or can be found in small schools of unicorn fish or as a part of larger schools with many other fish species.[2][6]
Diet
Bluespine unicornfish are herbivores and feed on brown and red algae with coarse or leafy blades.[7][6]
Human use and cultural significance
Bluespine unicornfish are eaten in abundance due to how common they are. They have a strong flavor and odor due to their diet. When skinned, the meat is white with a slight pink-red taint and a firm or moist texture. Bluespine unicornfish are usually eaten raw, boiled, grilled, baked or sauteed.[8]
The bluespine unicornfish or the Kala was an important food source in old Hawaii.[8] The tough skin of kala was sometimes stretched over a half coconut shell to make a small knee drum.[2] The Hawaiians also used Kala in ceremonies between members of a tribe or between tribes.[8] Today kala is still a common food source to the people of Hawaii and other Pacific Islands.
References
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^ Abesamis, R.; Clements, K.D.; Choat, J.H.; McIlwain, J.; Myers, R.; Nanola, C.; Rocha, L.A.; Russell, B.; Stockwell, B. (2012). "Naso unicornis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T177970A1506556. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177970A1506556.en.
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^ a b c d e f g Hoover, John P. (2008). The ultimate guide to Hawaiian reef fishes sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and seals. John P. Hoover. Honolulu: Mutual Pub. ISBN 978-1-56647-887-8. OCLC 243960518.
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^ Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen (2010). "*taRaq₂ unicorn fish: Acanthurus unicornis". Austronesian Comparative Dictionary. Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) -
^ Bray, D.J. (2019). "Naso unicornis in Fishes of Australia". Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
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^ Animal-World. "Bluespine Unicornfish". Animal World. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
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^ a b c d e "Bluespine Unicornfish". Georgia Aquarium. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
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^ a b "Unicornfish". thisfish.info. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
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^ a b c Titcomb, Margaret (1972-11-01). Native Use of Fish in Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0592-0.
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- Wikipedia authors and editors
Bluespine unicornfish: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Naso unicornis from
New Caledonia A pair of bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis) found in shallow water coral reef area of Green Island, a coral reef ecosystem reserve in Taiwan
The bluespine unicornfish or short-nose unicornfish (Naso unicornis) is a tang from the Indo-Pacific. It is occasionally found in the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 70 cm in length. It is called kala (meaning "thorn") in Hawaii, dawa in New Caledonia, and ta or tā in Fiji.
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- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Description
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Inhabits channels, moats, and seaward reefs with strong surge. A wary species, typically occurring in small groups, in very shallow surgy water. Mainly diurnal, it feeds on coarse leafy brown algae like @Sargassum@. Pair-spawning has been observed. Rarely poisonous around Tahiti but few cases of poisoning have been reported from the Leeward Is. and the Marquesas islands (Ref. 4795).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2023). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (02/2023).
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- cc-by-4.0
- copyright
- WoRMS Editorial Board
Habitat
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Known from seamounts and knolls
Stocks, K. 2009. Seamounts Online: an online information system for seamount biology. Version 2009-1. World Wide Web electronic publication.
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A pair of bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis) found in shallow water coral reef area of Green Island, a coral reef ecosystem reserve in Taiwan 