Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) > Nasinae
Etymology: Naso: Latin, nasus = nose (Ref. 45335); elegans: From the Latin for choice, fine, or nice (Ref. 37792).
More on author: Rüppell.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 30 m (Ref. 90102). Tropical; 30°N - 35°S, 30°E - 118°E (Ref. 37792)
Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa and east through the islands of the western Indian Ocean to southwestern Indonesia, at least to Bali.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 45.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37792); common length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573)
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26 - 30; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 27 - 30. Dorsal fin yellow with a blue line at base and a black band above this; anal and pelvic fins dark brown; dorsal and anal fins with a narrow blue margin and black submarginal line; caudal fin yellowish with black upper and lower margins and a submarginal black band posteriorly (Ref. 37792). Caudal fin emarginate with adult males having trailing filaments from each corner (Ref. 37792).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Inhabits coastal and sheltered reef flats in small groups and schools in oceanic locations (Ref. 48637). Also found in rocky bottoms in about 5-30 m (Ref. 90102). Feeds on benthic algae (Ref. 37792).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E., 2001. Surgeonfishes of Hawai'i and the world.. Mutual Publishing and Bishop Museum Press, Hawai'i. 123 p. (Ref. 37792)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.8 - 28.7, mean 27.1 °C (based on 172 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02344 (0.01004 - 0.05476), b=2.97 (2.77 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100).
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Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 41.6 [21.5, 68.7] mg/100g; Iron = 0.541 [0.290, 0.972] mg/100g; Protein = 18.2 [16.9, 19.4] %; Omega3 = 0.0915 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 33.6 [17.0, 66.5] μg/100g; VitaminA = 38.8 [8.8, 158.6] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.34 [0.88, 2.05] mg/100g (wet weight);
