Vlaming's unicornfish (Naso vlamingii)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Naso vlamingii
- Common name
- Vlaming's unicornfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Acanthuridae
- Genus
- Naso
- Size
- 40–60 cm
- Depth
- 4–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, open-water
- Behaviours
- schooling
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Naso vlamingii reaches 60 cm. Unicornfish with blue-purple to green-gray body with possibility of rapid color change (within seconds). Adult males with extensible electric blue mask around mouth used for communication and display. Two white-blue caudal scalpels. Lives from 4 to 50 m in loose schools on outer coral reefs and waters of central to western Indo-Pacific (Red Sea to western Pacific). Planktivore in open water. Prized photo subject for metallic colors.
Photo of Vlaming's unicornfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Vlaming's unicornfish?
- Vlaming's unicornfish (Naso vlamingii) reaches 40–60 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Vlaming's unicornfish?
- Vlaming's unicornfish is found between 4–50 m deep.
- Is the Vlaming's unicornfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Vlaming's unicornfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Vlaming's unicornfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Naso
- Naso lituratus - Orangespine unicornfish
- Naso brevirostris - Short-nosed unicornfish
- Naso unicornis - Unicornfish
- Naso elegans - Elegant Unicornfish
- Naso annulatus - Annulate Unicornfish
- Naso hexacanthus - Sawtooth Unicornfish
Other species in the family Acanthuridae
- Acanthurus coeruleus - Blue tang surgeonfish
- Acanthurus chirurgus - Doctorfish
- Acanthurus tractus - Atlantic blue tang
- Zebrasoma xanthurum - Yellowtail tang
- Zebrasoma desjardinii - Sailfin tang
- Acanthurus sohal - Sohal surgeonfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 219672)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5209104)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia