Humpback Unicornfish, Naso brachycentron (Valenciennes 1835)


Other Names: Humpback Unicorn

A Humpback Unicornfish, Naso brachycentron, at Komodo, Komodo, Manggarai, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia. Source: Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial-ShareAlike

Summary:
A greyish "hump-backed" surgeonfish with whitish to yellowish on the lower sides, lower half, several scattered small dark-edged pale spots on the rear of the head and above the pectoral fins, and a pair of bony keels on the caudal peduncle. Adult males develop a long tapering horn on the head and have irregular bars on the lower sides.

Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Naso brachycentron in Fishes of Australia, accessed 28 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2194

Humpback Unicornfish, Naso brachycentron (Valenciennes 1835)

More Info


Distribution

Scott Reef, WA, Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea and the northern Great Barrier Reef to Swains Reef, QLD, also reefs in the Coral Sea. The species occurs elsewhere in the tropical, Indo-west-central Pacific. Inhabits seaward reef slopes, either solitary or in small groups.

Features

Dorsal fin IV-V, 28-30; Anal fin II, 27-28. Distinctive humped-back body; horn only in adult males..

Feeding

Feeds on benthic algae.

Species Citation

Naseus brachycentron Valenciennes, 1835, Hist. Nat. Poiss. 10: 275. Type locality: Waigeo, Indonesia.

Author

Dianne J. Bray

Resources

Australian Faunal Directory

Humpback Unicornfish, Naso brachycentron (Valenciennes 1835)

References


Allen, G.R. 2009. Field Guide to Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-East Asia. Welshpool : Western Australian Museum Edn. 4, pp. 287.

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

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

Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. & Kailola, P.J. 1984. Trawled Fishes of Southern Indonesia and Northwest Australia. Jakarta : Dir. Gen. Fish. (Indonesia), German Tech. Coop., Aust. Dev. Ass. Bur. 406 pp.

Herre, A.W. 1927. Philippine surgeon fishes and moorish idols. Philippine Journal of Science 34(4): 403-478.

Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Biodiversity of shallow reef fish assemblages in Western Australia using a rapid censusing technique. Records of the Western Australian Museum 20: 247-270.

Hutchins, J.B., Williams, D.McB., Newman, S.J., Cappo, M. & Speare, P. 1995. New records of fishes for the Rowley Shoals and Scott/Seringapatam Reefs, off north-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 17: 119-123.

Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. & Debelius, H. 2001. Surgeonfishes, Rabbitfishes and Their Relatives. A comprehensive guide to Acanthuroidei. Chorleywood, U.K. : TMC Publishing 208 pp.

Kuiter R.W. & Tonozuka, T. 2001. Indonesian Reef Fishes. Part 3. Part 3. Jawfishes - Sunfishes, Opistognathidae - Molidae. Melbourne : Zoonetics pp. 623–893.

Myers, R.F., 1999. Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia. 3rd Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 330 pp.

Oxley, W.G., Ayling, A.M., Cheal, A.J. & Thompson, A.A. 2003. Marine surveys undertaken in the Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve, March-April 2003. Townsville : Australian Institute of Marine Science 59 pp.

Randall, J.E. 2001. Surgeonfishes of Hawai'i and the World. Honolulu : Mutual Publishing and Bishop Museum Press 125 pp.

Randall, J.E. 2001. Zanclidae, Acanthuridae. pp. 3651-3683 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 6 pp. 3381-4218.

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press 707 pp.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 507 pp. figs.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.

Russell, B.C., Larson, H.K., Hutchins, J.B. & Allen, G.R. 2005. Reef fishes of the Sahul Shelf. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory Supplement 1 2005: 83-105.

Valenciennes, A. in Cuvier, G.L. & Valenciennes, A. 1835. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Paris : Levrault Vol. 10 482 pp. pls 280-306.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37437025

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:8-30 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:100 cm TL

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map