Description

“Vlaming’s Unicornfish” refers to the marine fish Naso vlamingii, also commonly known as the Bignose Unicornfish or Scribbled Unicornfish.

Scientific Name: Naso vlamingii

Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, Tangs, and Unicornfishes)

Distinguishing Features:

“Unicorn” Feature: Unlike some other unicornfish that have a pointed horn-like protuberance, Naso vlamingii develops a prominent, bulbous, rounded protuberance (or “nose-like bump”) on its forehead above the snout as it matures.

Tall Fins: They have unusually tall dorsal and anal fins.

Caudal Filaments: Adults develop long, trailing filaments from the tips of their caudal (tail) fin lobes.

Colouration: Adults are typically greyish-brown or reddish-brown. They are remarkable for their ability to rapidly change colour. They often display small dark blue spots on the head and upper flanks, which merge into stripes on the lower flanks. A wide blue band runs from the eye to the front of the frontal protuberance, and their lips are blue. The intensity of these blue markings can become brilliant during display (e.g., courtship or at cleaning stations).

Size: They can grow quite large, with a maximum published length of up to 60 cm (24 inches).

Habitat and Distribution:

Indo-Pacific Range: They have a wide distribution across the Indo-Pacific, from the eastern coast of Africa, through the Indian Ocean islands (excluding continental southern Asian waters), Indonesia, and into the Pacific, reaching as far north as southern Japan and south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia, and even to the Galapagos Islands in the East Pacific.

Reef Environment: They inhabit deep lagoons and seaward reefs, typically at depths of 1-50 meters.

Behaviour: They are often found forming loose schools, particularly along the upper regions of deep slopes and drop-offs, where they feed on zooplankton. They can also be seen alone or in pairs.

Diet:

Juveniles: Primarily herbivorous, feeding mainly on algae.

Semi-adults: Omnivorous.

Adults: Primarily carnivorous, feeding on zooplankton.

Reproduction: They are oviparous (egg-laying) and release eggs in batches for external fertilization. Spawning often occurs in aggregations.

Conservation Status: The Vlaming’s Unicornfish is currently listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Tank Requirements: They require very large, well-established aquariums with strong water movement and plenty of hiding places.