Orangespine Unicornfish

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Orangespine Unicornfish
Species:	Naso lituratus
Games:	Endless Ocean, Endless Ocean 2
Category:	Coral-Reef Life
Length:	23 in (58 cm)
Appearance:	A blue-grey with distinctive black and yellow markings on its face, a black upper fin and a yellow lower fin.
Location: (EO)	Everywhere in the Manoa Lai Sea in autumn
Location: (EO2)	Zahhab Region
Time:	Day and night
Dangerous:
Forms:	Adult only

The Orangespine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus), called the Naso Tang in Endless Ocean, is a species of coral-reef fish found in both Endless Ocean and Endless Ocean 2.

The name "orangespine" comes from the fact that there is a set of spines at the base of this fish's tail-fin that is accentuated by a patch of bright orange coloration. These spines, sometimes called "scalpels", are a feature shared by every fish in the family that the orangespine unicornfish belongs to - Acanthuridae.

In-Game

Marine Encyclopedia

Endless Ocean

Description

"Naso tangs have narrow bodies with dark color patterns. They are known for their trademark white dorsal fin and orange tail-fin markings. In the fall, they can be found all over Manoa Lai.

These fish have a single set of spines located on the tail-fin joint. When fully grown, the upper and lower sections of male tail fins become elongated. Telling Naso tangs apart from other fish in the genus Naso can be difficult until this occurs.

If a predator approaches, Naso tangs will stretch their tails and attack using the sharp spines. Divers who attempt to touch one with their unprotected hands are in for a nasty surprise."

Endless Ocean 2

Description

"Its dark main color makes the vibrant orange at the base of its tail quite eye-catching. Sharp spine all around the tail make it dangerous to handle with bare hands. Although the unicornfish family often sports a hornlike protuberance, this particular species does not."

Locations

Endless Ocean

Orangespine unicornfish can be found all over the Manoa Lai Sea in autumn. They have no off-season locations, being one of the only seasonal fish in the game that is impossible to find in other seasons.

Endless Ocean 2

ZR

ZR

These can be found all around B-3 to C-6 in Zahhab Region, where they swim in small schools.

Behavior

These are found in medium, loose groups. They appreciate being offered food, like most coral-dwelling fish.

Gallery

The orangespine unicornfish in the first game.

The orangespine unicornfish in the aquarium of the first game.

Notes

• This was one of the species to undergo a name change from Endless Ocean to Endless Ocean 2, along with a few other fish, such as the miniata grouper, blue-spotted ribbontail ray, and ornate spiny lobster.
• One or two specimens can be spotted near the bottom of Endless Ocean 2's 's box art.

Real-Life Information

1/2

• True to both in-game descriptions, the orangespine unicornfish does in fact have a set of sharp spines around the base of its tail fin - and they are surrounded by orange, which helps give them one of their common names. These spines are a characteristic that all members of this fish's family, Acanthuridae, have - hence why they are oftentimes known as "surgeonfish".
  • In some species, these spines are venomous, such as the blue tang; they are also venomous on the orangespine unicornfish. To smaller foes, this venom can be fatal, but humans are large enough that it is not deadly - only painful and unpleasant.
• The first game states that male fish develop elongated upper and lower sections of the tail fin; this much is accurate. This was once thought to differentiate them as a separate species entirely, but has been recognized as simple sexual dimorphism.
  • A different but very similar and closely-related species, Naso elegans, was once thought to be a color morph of the orangespine unicornfish from the Indian Ocean, but has since been recognized as a separate species. Some places still inaccurately report N. elegans, the blonde naso tang, as being a color variant.
    • N. elegans is known to hybridize with the orangespine unicornfish.
  • Sexual dimorphism is when the different sexes of a species display different outward traits. For instance, a lion's mane and a lioness' lack of one is an example of sexual dimorphism.
• In the second game's description, there is a note about how members of the genus Naso usually have a hornlike protrusion on their head, but the orangespine unicornfish does not. This much is accurate.
• The orangespine unicornfish is a favorite aquarium fish in the industry, known for being active and friendly when it gets over its initial shyness about a new tank. It will even eat from its owners hand, if acclimated well.
  • Aquarists have noted that it gets along well with other fish, except other tangs or surgeonfishes.
• If excited or agitated, the orangespine unicornfish can change color. It may also change colors at night. Males may change color during courtship displays.
• Other common names for the orangespine unicornfish (or naso tang) include lipstick tang, masked unicornfish, redlip surgeonfish, clown unicornfish, clown surgeonfish, striped unicornfish, and tricolor tang.

Navigation

Coral-Reef Life

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Purple Tang • Bluecheek Butterflyfish • Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish • Moorish Idol • King Angelfish
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Yellowtail Surgeonfish • Whitemargin Unicornfish • Orange-Lined Triggerfish
Clown Triggerfish • Sailfin Tang • Golden Spadefish • Yellow Tang • Blue Tang
Orangespine Unicornfish • Purple Queen • Swallowtail Sea Perch • Crescent Tail Bigeye
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