Nasinae
Naso represents a genus within the Acanthuridae family, which encompasses marine ray-finned fish including unicornfishes, surgeonfishes, and tangs. The designation "unicornfishes" arises from a notable characteristic present in certain species within this genus—a "rostral protuberance," which manifests as a horn-like projection situated on the forehead.
These fish are actively sought after by spearfishermen and are traditionally prepared by cooking them in their entirety on a grill. The primary habitat for unicornfishes encompasses coral reefs, with a diet that is predominantly algae-based. The culinary preference for this fish is particularly notable in the 🇲🇻 Maldives. Geographically, the distribution of the Naso genus spans from Africa to Hawaii (🇺🇸 United States) within the Indo-Pacific region.
The establishment of Naso as a distinct genus was initiated in 1801 by Bernard Germain de Lacépède with the description of Naso fronticornis, identifying new specimens from Jeddah and 🇲🇺 Mauritius. However, Lacépède's nomination was an unnecessary substitution for the Chaetodon unicornis, previously documented by Peter Forsskål in 1775 from Jeddah. Subsequently, in 1917, David Starr 🇯🇴 Jordan appointed Naso fronticornis as the typifying species for the genus Naso. Furthermore, the genus Naso is the sole constituent of the monogeneric subfamily Nasinae, a classification proposed by Henry Weed Fowler and Barton Appler Bean in 1929 within the Acanthuridae family.
