| Family: |
Balistidae (Triggerfishes) |
| Max. size: |
76 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 60 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Pacific from northern California to Chile and Hawaiian Islands; including the Galapagos Islands. |
| Diagnosis: |
Body compressed and deep; skin thick, with large, rectilinear, plate-like scales that are easily visible to the naked eye; mouth small; teeth strong and protruding, 8 in each jaw; dorsal fin with 3 spines and 26 to 28 rays; scales behind the gill openings larger than the neighboring scales; snout surrounded by scales (Ref. 55763). |
| Biology: |
Occurs in rocky reefs, boulder strewn slopes and adjacent areas of sand. Adults demersal; young pelagic (Ref. 2850). Feeds on sea urchins, small crustaceans and mollusks (Ref. 5227). Minimum depth 3m (Ref. 116844). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 May 2008 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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