ACANTHURIDAE


Naso elegans
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Naso elegans
(Rüppell, 1829)
Elegant Unicornfish

D VI, 27-30; A II, 27-30; P1 16-17.

Body deep, 1.9-2.4 in SL. Teeth smooth-edged incisors with rounded tips in adults; both jaws with 30-35 teeth. Caudal fin lunate, the large males developing a long filament from each lobe. Caudal peduncle with 2 bony plates. Color: head and body gray brown; head with a narrow curved yellow band from corner of mouth to eye, snout in front of yellow band black; dorsal fin yellow with a broad black band at base posterior to 4th spine; anal fin mainly dark yellowish brown; caudal fin gray brown with narrow black upper and lower margins and a broad black posterior submarginal band; caudal peduncle with 2 yellow spots. Size: attaining to 45 cm. Distribution: Indian Ocean. Remarks: some authors had been confused this species and Naso lituratus (Forster, 1801).