Blackspine Unicorn

Fresh specimens with yellow caudal fin and blackish peduncular plate; preserved specimens uniform grey in color and dark fins (pectorals pale). Oblique groove on side of snout below nostrils, its length about equal to length of naked area enclosing nostrils (Ref 9808).Description: Characterized further by having black caudal spine; absence of horn or protuberance on forehead; single plate with large, sharp spine on each side of caudal peduncle; greatest depth of body 2.9-3.3 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28 - 30; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 28

Descends from the water column to the reef front to be cleaned by Labroides dimidiatus (Ref. 4974). Feeds on benthic algae (Ref. 3145). Forms aggregations, feeding on zooplankton well above the bottom over or in the immediate vicinity of reefs.

Inhabits coastal to outer reef slopes, usually swimming along upper edges of drop-offs in small schools (Ref. 48637). Descends from the water column to the reef front to be cleaned by Labroides dimidiatus (Ref. 4974). Feeds on benthic algae (Ref. 3145). Forms aggregations, feeding on zooplankton well above the bottom over or in the immediate vicinity of reefs. Males exhibit rapid and striking changes in color pattern during courtship (Ref. 10671).

分布於印度-西太平洋區，由莫三比克至菲律賓，北可至日本。台灣分布於南部及小琉球海域。

罕見之種，一般以流刺網或潛水鏢魚法等捕獲。可食用。

體呈長橢圓形而側扁；尾柄部僅有一個盾狀骨板，有一個龍骨突。頭小，頭背弧形，隨著成長，成魚在前頭部無角狀起，亦無瘤狀突起。口小，端位，上下頜各具一列齒，齒稍側扁且尖銳，兩側或有鋸狀齒。背鰭及臀鰭硬棘尖銳，分別具V棘及II棘，各鰭條皆不延長；尾鰭截平或內凹，上下葉緣不延長如絲。體背側呈褐色，腹側白色，體側無任何斑紋；尾鰭上下葉黃色，基部具白色斑塊。骨板基部黑色。

主要棲息於礁區海域，棲息深度在8-55公尺左右，較少見到。

Naso minor is a tropical fish found in coral reefs around Mozambique and the Philippines. It is commonly known as the blackspine unicornfish, slender unicorn, or little unicorn.

Descends from the water column to the reef front to be cleaned by Labroides dimidiatus (Ref. 4974). Feeds on benthic algae.