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Bluespine unicornfish

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Bluespine unicornfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Acanthuridae
Genus: Naso
Subgenus: Naso
Species:
N. unicornis
Binomial name
Naso unicornis
(Forsskål, 1775)

The bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis), also known as the short-nose unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes surgeonfishes, unicornfishes, and tangs. This species is found across the Indo-Pacific[2], Red Sea, East Africa, Hawaiian Islands, and French Polynesia[3]. It is occasionally found in the aquarium trade. With various names such as kala ('spiny') in Hawai'i[2], dawa in New Caledonia, ta or tā in Fiji[4], and tataga in Guam[5].

History

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The bluespine unicornfish was formally described as Chaetodon unicornis by the Swedish-speaking Finnish explorer, orientalist, naturalist, and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus Peter Forsskål with its type locality given as Jeddah[6]. In 1801 the French zoologist Bernard Germain de Lacépède described a new species Naso fronticornis as a replacement name for Chaetodon unicornis, which, in 1917 David Starr Jordan designated as the type species of the genus Naso, which had first been proposed as a genus by Lacépède when he described N. fronticornis[7]. Naso is the only genus in the monogeneric subfamily Nasinae, proposed by Henry Weed Fowler and Barton Appler Bean in 1929[8] within the family Acanthuridae[9].

Bluespine Unicornfish Displaying Its Prominent Horn (Bray, D.J. "Bluespine Unicornfish, Naso unicornis (Forsskål 1775)". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria.)

Description

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The bluespine unicornfish has a blueish-gray body with two blue spines on each side at the base of the tail and a cephalic horn extending between its eyes[10][2][3][6]. These fish have a leather-like skin instead of scales. Growing up to 70 cm (28 in) and the largest weighing 5.8 kg (13 lb)[2][11][12].

Geographical Distribution of Bluespine Unicornfish ("Bluespine Unicornfish". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2010.)

Distribution

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The bluespine unicornfish is common in the Hawaiian Islands and is a near shore fish comprising 9.62% of the total observed reef fish species[13][14]. Adults can be found in shallow and deeper waters[14]. Found inhabiting a combination of reef flat, crest, and slope areas[15]. Various behaviors are observed in their habitats. Site-attachment localizes the fish to a specific area which reduces random movements. Commuters exhibit crepuscular migrations (movement at dawn and dusk) between "night" refuge holes in coral to forage in daytime sites. In contrast, "foraying" fish use refuge holes during the day and night, making short (5-15 minute) forays (rushes) towards algal covers within 10-40m of their refuge holes[16].

Diet

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Bluespine unicornfish is a limited browsing herbivore that feeds on algae (Gracilaria salicornia) and microalgae (Tubinara, Dictyota, Sargassum)[15]. Valued for their ecological importance, algae is managed. Algae can interfere with coral recruitment, recovery, and nutrient collection[15][17]. Bluespine unicornfish are often found swimming with intraspecific schools and their family (Acanthuridae) to forage[15].

Bluespine Unicornfish Exhibiting Flashing Behavior ("Charisma Plus! The Bluespine Unicornfish". Norfolk Island's Reef.)

Reproduction

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Bluespine unicornfish displays a form of sexual dimorphism. Females mature at a larger length than males and mature later. However, the average maturity length across bluespine unicornfish can't be determined as length varies by geographical location. All of which are predictable by a gonado-somatic index value that compares the fish's gonads to their body weight[18]. For successful spawning, males court the females by rapidly increasing the frequency of its flashing colors. Although the purpose of horns has not been determined, an observation has suggested a correlation between flashing and displaying of the male horns to produce sexual selection[19].

Growth

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Studies have been done to find alternative methods for determining the age of fish, as body length and mass is a poor predictor. The bluespine unicornfish undergoes accelerated early growth until sexual maturation, then growth slows. Alternatively, age can be predicted by measuring mass and thickness of otoliths (ear stones). Results are variable, mass is easier to measure and provides sufficient age measurements while thickness is accurate, but costly. Additionally, otoliths produce growth zones that can be detected by C-14 dating. By measuring the layer of carbon-14 and comparing this to recorded atmospheric levels, the fish's age can be determined[15]. It has been observed in Hawai'i that the maximum age was double the amount in Guam and three times greater than Pohnpei, likely due to latitudinal trends (temperature)[18].

Pacific Art of Unicorn Fish (Taylor, Brett M. (3 July 2019). "Standing Out in a Big Crowd: High Cultural and Economic Value of Naso unicornis in the Insular Pacific". Fishes. 4 (3): 40. doi:10.3390/fishes4030040.)

Human and Cultural Use

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Bluespine unicornfish are commonly eaten in abundance, targeted by net, hook and line, and night spearfishing[3]. Their meat is white with a slight pink-red tint and the texture can be firm or moist. The meat is also followed by a strong flavor and aroma. Commonly eaten raw, boiled, grilled, baked, or sauteed[14].

Across the Pacific, bluespine unicornfish is found on postage stamps, company or event logos, indigenous artwork, and as school mascots[3]. Used throughout old Hawai'i, "Kala" has a significant cultural value. The tough skin of Kala can be stretched over a half coconut shell to make a small knee drum used in ceremonies between tribe members[2][14].

Coral Triangle and countries participating in the Coral Triangle Initiative
A pair of bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis) found in shallow water coral reef area of Green Island, a coral reef ecosystem reserve in Taiwan

Conservation Status

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Although common and considered as "least concern" for threatened species, bluespine unicornfish experiences overexploitation. The bluespine unicornfish present in the coral triangle area is approaching a "near threatened" status[20]. Data has shown that a notable amount of immature fish are caught throughout regions of Pohnpei (73%), Palau (40%), and Guam (39%)[17]. Warming temperatures also affect populations of bluespine unicornfish whose life histories are considerably influenced by temperature[21]. Populations of bluespine unicornfish are regulated by insular fisheries throughout the Indo-Pacific. Fisheries offer humans the ability to participate in recreational, subsistence, artisanal, and commercial fishing[3].

References

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  1. ^ Abesamis, R.; Clements, K.D.; Choat, J.H.; et al. (2012). "Naso unicornis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T177970A1506556. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177970A1506556.en.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hoover, John P. (2008). The ultimate guide to Hawaiian reef fishes sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and seals. Honolulu: Mutual Pub. ISBN 978-1-56647-887-8.
  3. ^ a b c d e Taylor, Brett M. (3 July 2019). "Standing Out in a Big Crowd: High Cultural and Economic Value of Naso unicornis in the Insular Pacific". Fishes. 4 (3): 40. doi:10.3390/fishes4030040.
  4. ^ Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen (2010). "*taRaq₂ unicorn fish: Acanthurus unicornis". Austronesian Comparative Dictionary. Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  5. ^ DeMartini, Edward Emile; Langston, Ross; Eble, Jeff A (July 2014). "Spawning seasonality and body sizes at sexual maturity in the bluespine unicornfish, Naso unicornis (Acanthuridae)". Ichthyological Research. 61 (3): 243–251. Bibcode:2014IchtR..61..243D. doi:10.1007/s10228-014-0393-z.
  6. ^ a b Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Naso". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  7. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Acanthuridae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. ^ Richard van der Laan; William N. Eschmeyer & Ronald Fricke (2014). "Family-group names of recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (2): 1–230. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1. PMID 25543675.
  9. ^ J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 497–502. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6. Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  10. ^ Bray, D.J. (2019). "Naso unicornis in Fishes of Australia". Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
  11. ^ Animal-World. "Bluespine Unicornfish". Animal World. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  12. ^ "Bluespine Unicornfish". Georgia Aquarium. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  13. ^ Bierwagen, Stacy L.; Price, Donald K.; Pack, Adam A.; Meyer, Carl G. (January 2017). "Bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis) are both natural control agents and mobile vectors for invasive algae in a Hawaiian Marine Reserve". Marine Biology. 164 (1): 25. Bibcode:2017MarBi.164...25B. doi:10.1007/s00227-016-3049-x.
  14. ^ a b c d Titcomb, Margaret (1972-11-01). Native Use of Fish in Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0592-0.
  15. ^ a b c d e Andrews, Allen H.; DeMartini, Edward E.; Eble, Jeff A.; Taylor, Brett M.; Lou, Dong Chun; Humphreys, Robert L. (October 2016). "Age and growth of bluespine unicornfish ( Naso unicornis ): a half-century life-span for a keystone browser, with a novel approach to bomb radiocarbon dating in the Hawaiian Islands". Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 73 (10): 1575–1586. Bibcode:2016CJFAS..73.1575A. doi:10.1139/cjfas-2016-0019.
  16. ^ Meyer, Carl G.; Holland, Kim N. (June 2005). "Movement patterns, home range size and habitat utilization of the bluespine unicornfish, Naso unicornis (Acanthuridae) in a Hawaiian marine reserve". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 73 (2): 201–210. Bibcode:2005EnvBF..73..201M. doi:10.1007/s10641-005-0559-7.
  17. ^ a b Bejarano, S; Golbuu, Y; Sapolu, T; Mumby, Pj (22 May 2013). "Ecological risk and the exploitation of herbivorous reef fish across Micronesia". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 482: 197–215. Bibcode:2013MEPS..482..197B. doi:10.3354/meps10270.
  18. ^ a b Taylor, B. M.; Rhodes, K. L.; Marshell, A.; McIlwain, J. L. (September 2014). "Age-based demographic and reproductive assessment of orangespine Naso lituratus and bluespine Naso unicornis unicornfishes". Journal of Fish Biology. 85 (3): 901–916. Bibcode:2014JFBio..85..901T. doi:10.1111/jfb.12479. PMID 25082347.
  19. ^ Arai, Hiroshi; Sato, Tetsu (24 February 2007). "Prominent ornaments and rapid color change: use of horns as a social and reproductive signal in unicornfish (Acanthuridae: Naso)". Ichthyological Research. 54 (1): 49–54. Bibcode:2007IchtR..54...49A. doi:10.1007/s10228-006-0373-z.
  20. ^ Ford, Amanda K.; Bejarano, Sonia; Marshell, Alyssa; Mumby, Peter J. (August 2016). "Linking the biology and ecology of key herbivorous unicornfish to fisheries management in the Pacific". Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 26 (4): 790–805. Bibcode:2016ACMFE..26..790F. doi:10.1002/aqc.2623.
  21. ^ Taylor, Brett M.; Choat, John Howard; DeMartini, Edward E.; Hoey, Andrew S.; Marshell, Alyssa; Priest, Mark A.; Rhodes, Kevin L.; Meekan, Mark G. (December 2019). "Demographic plasticity facilitates ecological and economic resilience in a commercially important reef fish". Journal of Animal Ecology. 88 (12): 1888–1900. Bibcode:2019JAnEc..88.1888T. doi:10.1111/1365-2656.13095. PMID 31429473.
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