Species: Naso lituratus, Orangespine unicornfish

Naso lituratus (Forster in Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Orangespine unicornfish

Body elongate, oval; snout pointed, slopes at about 45°; adult without horn; mouth small, protrusible, low on head; teeth small, conical, tips slightly depressed & either smooth or with multiple small points; dorsal fin VI, 27-30; anal II, 28-30; pectoral 16-17 rays; pelvics I, 3; 2 pairs of cutting keels on plates on narrow tail base; tail concave, males with long filaments from top and bottom; scales very small, rough; lateral line complete.

Grey brown body and head; lips orange; snout, between eyes and behind mouth black, with yellow edging; nape yellow; dorsal black, grey and white margin; cutting plates on tail base in 2 orange spots; tail black to grey, with thin yellow margin; anal orange, thin black and white marginal lines; pelvics yellowish; pectoral dark grey.

Size: 45 cm.

Habitat: reefs and rocky shores; usually in sheltered habitats, although also on exposed outer reefs.

Depth: 0-70 m; juveniles usually 5-15 m; adults usually 5-20 m.

An Indo-Pacific species; introduced to Florida.