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).
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 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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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).
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);