About Naso hexacanthus (Bleeker, 1855)
This species, commonly called the sleek unicornfish, has a scientific name of Naso hexacanthus (Bleeker, 1855). Unlike some of its close relatives, the sleek unicornfish does not have a protuberance that extends from its forehead. Its body color ranges from dark brown to yellow, and individuals may occasionally change color to blue or silver. Adult sleek unicornfish reach a maximum length of 75 centimeters. This species has teeth angled backwards and a black tongue. The sleek unicornfish is distributed across the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Hawaiian islands to Africa and India. It lives in habitats including lagoons and seaward reef slopes. Due to its wide distribution across the Indo-Pacific, the IUCN has classified the conservation status of this species as Least Concern. Ecologically, the sleek unicornfish feeds on plankton, small crustaceans, and filamentous algae. It is targeted by moderate levels of fishing activity.
