Naso elegans

(Rüppell, 1829)

Vernacular names
English : Elegant unicornfish
French : Nason à éperons orange

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Acanthuriformes (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Acanthuridae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a maximum length of 45 cm. Laterally compressed body with long head and prominent lips. Coloration is dark grey with black lines and orange lips on head, orange tail peduncle and yellow-orange dorsal and pelvic fins.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indian Ocean, from Red Sea, east and south Africa, east to Indonesia (Bali). Lives in rocky bottoms, coastal and sheltered reef flats, from 5 to 30 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species isn’t threatened but remains uncommon to only locally common (Cocos Islands). Targeted for international aquarium trade.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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