Whitemargin unicornfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitemargin unicornfish |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Naso
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| Species: |
annulatus
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The whitemargin unicornfish (Naso annulatus) is a cool tropical fish. People also call it the ringtailed unicornfish or short-horned unicorn-fish. You can find this fish all over the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It can grow up to 100 centimeters (about 3.3 feet) long! This makes it one of the biggest fish in its family, called Acanthuridae.
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About the Whitemargin Unicornfish
How Scientists Name Fish
Scientists give every animal a special name. The whitemargin unicornfish was first described in 1825. Two French naturalists, Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard, gave it the name Priodon annulatus. Today, it is known as Naso annulatus. It belongs to a group of fish called the Naso genus. This group is part of the larger Acanthuridae family.
What Does It Look Like?
The whitemargin unicornfish has some unique features. Its top fin, called the dorsal fin, has 5 strong spines. It also has 28 or 29 soft rays. The fin on its belly, the anal fin, has 2 spines and 27 or 28 soft rays.
One of the coolest things about this fish is its "horn." It has a long, bony bump on its head, right in front of its eyes. When the fish is young and small (less than 20 cm), this horn is just a little bump. As it grows, the horn gets longer and more pointed.
The tail of the whitemargin unicornfish changes as it gets older. Young fish have a straight tail. But adult fish have a wavy tail. Male fish even grow long, flowing parts on the tips of their tails!
The body of the fish is usually bluish-grey or bluish-brown. Its belly is a lighter color. Its lips are white. Young fish have a clear white band around their tail base. They also have a white edge on their tail fin. As they get older, a black band appears on the tail, but a thin white edge stays. This fish can grow up to 100 cm long, making it one of the biggest unicornfish!
Where Does It Live?
The whitemargin unicornfish lives in a huge area. You can find it from the Red Sea and East Africa all the way to Costa Rica. Young fish like to live in shallow, clear water. They hang out on reefs in lagoons, sometimes in water as shallow as 1 meter (about 3 feet). But adult fish prefer deeper water. They are usually found at depths of 25 meters (about 82 feet) or more. They live off the edges of coral reefs.
Life Cycle and Habits
Whitemargin unicornfish often swim in small groups, called schools. Young fish eat tiny green algae. But when they grow bigger than 20 cm, their diet changes. Adult fish eat soft zooplankton, which are tiny animals floating in the water. This includes things like ctenophores and jellyfish. When it's time to have babies, male and female fish form pairs to spawn.
Why Is This Fish Important?
People sometimes catch the whitemargin unicornfish for food. It is also sometimes collected for the aquarium trade. This means some of these beautiful fish end up in large aquariums for people to enjoy.
