Species Type:
Fishes
Common Name(s):
Shortnosed unicorn tang
Size:
Shortnosed unicorn tangs can grow to 24 inches (60 centimeters) long.
Diet:
These fish feed on fish larvae, seagrasses, algae and plankton.
Range & Habitat:
Throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans, shortnosed unicorn tangs inhabit coastal reef communities and soft, sandy bottom areas.
Details:
Shortnosed unicorn tangs have gray-brown bodies with irregular splotches of turquoise blue. They also have small black dots from their head to the base of their blue tail. This species gets their name from the short horn extending from their forehead, which may play a role in dominance behavior or mate attraction, especially in males, who may use the horn in social interactions with other tangs.