New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Tropical

Slender unicorn

Naso minor Smith, 1966
Max Length
30 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
2.6
Depth
8–55 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
35.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Inhabits coastal to outer reef slopes, usually swimming along upper edges of drop-offs in small schools . Descends from the water column to the reef front to be cleaned by Labroides dimidiatus . Feeds on benthic algae . 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 .

Scientific Name
Naso minor
Authority
Smith, 1966
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
30 cm
Depth Range
8–55 m
Trophic Level
2.6
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
35.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28 - 30; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 28. 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). : fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Slender unicorn is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Slender unicorn is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Slender unicorn is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 8 - 55 m . Tropical West Pacific: Mozambique to the Philippines.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
2.6±0.29
🐠 Schooling
Food Items

benthic algae (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01995 × L3.01 (TL)
Max TL
30cm
Dorsal Spines
5
Dorsal Rays
29
Anal Spines
2
Anal Rays
28

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2010

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
35.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.6
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Smith, 1966

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Axinurus minor Smith 1966 Synonym
Naseus unicolor Günther ex Liénard 1861 Synonym
Naso unicolor Liénard 1861 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Slender unicorn ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.