Sleek Unicornfish (species: Naso hexacanthus) in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Lizard Island area: all known taxa > Animalia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Actinopterygii > Perciformes > Acanthuridae > Naso > Naso hexacanthus (gallery)
Naso hexacanthus
Sleek Unicornfish


©Anne Hoggett: Naso hexacanthus at Day Reef near Lizard Island

©Anne Hoggett: Naso hexacanthus at Day Reef near Lizard Island

©Paul Caiger: Naso hexacanthus in spawning colours at Hicks Reef near Lizard Island, 11 Dec 2014

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Acanthuridae
Genus Naso
Species Naso hexacanthus

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Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

Dark above, yellowish below although colour can be changed quickly. No forehead horn. Adults with a pair of blades on the tail peduncle. White mouth interior conspicuous. Gill cover with a dark diagonal stripe and dark outline. 

Size

  • Up to 75 cm (Length)

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Local abundance

  • Outer reefs near Lizard Island: Common on steep dropoffs below about 12 m depth.

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Allen, G., R. Steene, P. Humann and N. Deloach (2003). Reef fish identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA.
  • Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene (1990). Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Other references

  • Borden, W.C. (1998). Phylogeny of the unicornfishes (Naso, Acanthuridae) based on soft anatomy, Copeia, 1998(1): 104-113. LIRS catalog number 528.
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