| Family: |
Balistidae (Triggerfishes) |
| Max. size: |
30 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to East Africa through Indonesia and northern Australia up to Hawaii and Pitcairn islands; north to southern Japan. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-25; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 20-22. Body orange-brown above; head and belly white; soft dorsal, anal and pectoral fins pale; caudal fin dusky (Ref. 4420).
Description: Characterized by presence of black band through eye connecting expansive black area between pectoral and anal fin bases; caudal peduncle/posterior body with distinctive black triangular mark; absence of groove in front of eye; nearly straight dorsal and ventral profiles of head; caudal peduncle and adjacent posterior body with 4-5 horizontal rows of small, anterior projecting spines; rounded caudal fin (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Occur in shallow outer reefs subject to surge (Ref. 9770, 48637). Commonly found over barren rock or the spur-and-groove zone where there is a mixture of bare rock, rubble, and coral. Juveniles on algae reef (Ref. 48637). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed on algae, detritus, mollusks, crustaceans, worms, echinoderms, fishes, sponges, foraminiferans, and eggs. Territorial. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Also taken by drive-in nets (Ref. 9770). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 January 2022 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
