Elegant Unicornfish

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).Description: Characterized further by dark greyish body color with yellow-edged black band down middle of snout; black margins on opercle and preopercle; presence of a pair of large orange spots around caudal peduncle keels; absence of horn or protuberance on forehead; caudal peduncle with pair of bony plates, each with sharp forward projecting keel; greatest depth of body 2.2-2.7 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26 - 30; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 27 - 30

Feeds on benthic algae (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).

fisheries: commercial

Naso elegans is a tropical fish found in coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. It is commonly known as the elegant unicornfish, Indian orange-spine unicorn, orange-spine unicorn, and smoothheaded unicornfish.