Spotted Unicornfish and Tiger Cardinalfish on a coral reef in the Maldives
The short-nosed unicornfish or spotted unicornfish (Naso brevirostris) is a species of unicornfish in the family Acanthuridae and is widespread throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The short-nosed unicornfish dwells in rocky shore and reef habitats, and prefers water temperatures ranging from to 29° Celsius. Cheilodipterus macrodon, the large-toothed or tiger cardinalfish is common in outer reef slopes in 4-30 m depth; in caves and ledges of clear lagoon and seaward reefs from to at least 40 m, generally hovering solitarily in midwater Adults are usually in pairs or small groups comprising several pairs; juveniles solitary or small groups. Feeds primarily on small fishes The Republic of Maldives, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean–Arabian Sea area, consisting of a double chain of twenty-six atolls, oriented north-south, that lie between Minicoy Island (the southernmost part of Lakshadweep, India) and the Chagos Archipelago. The chains stand in the Laccadive Sea, and the capital, Malé, is about 600 kilometres (370 mi) south-west of India and 750 kilometres (470 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka. The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. With an average ground level elevation of metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the planet's lowest country. It is also the country with the lowest natural highest point in the world, at metres (7 ft 10 in). Future inundation of the Maldives due to rising sea levels is of great concern to its people, motivating the government to have pledged to be carbon neutral by 2019
Size: 3000px × 4001px
Location: Cocoa Island Makunufushi South Malé Atoll Republic of Maldives
Photo credit: © Niall Ferguson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: brevirostris, cardinalfish, cheilodipterus, coral, fish, indian, macrodon, maldives, marine, naso, ocean, reef, snorkel, spotted, tiger, tropical, undersea, underwater, unicornfish
