Introducing our first Fish of the Month for 2021, the Bignose Unicornfish (Naso vlamingii)!
Survey Regions: Bignose Unicornfish are found throughout REEF's Central Indo Pacific (CIP), South Pacific (SOP), and Indian Ocean and Red Sea (IORS) survey regions. You can check out the REEF database reports for each region, including CIP, SOP, and IORS.
Size: When fully grown, they can reach nearly 2 feet.
Identifying Features: Bignose Unicornfish can be shades of brown, blue, or gray. They have blue lips and a blue band in front of their eyes, with blue lines and spots on their bodies. They can also rapidly lighten or darken their colors and markings.
Fun Facts: Bignose Unicornfish are members of the Surgeonfish family. The Surgeonfish family name comes from the sharp spines located on their tail base. These Unicornfish have two sets of spines, which are said to be as sharp as a surgeon's scalpel.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month!
[Photo by Paul Humann]