| Family: |
Balistidae (Triggerfishes) |
| Max. size: |
30 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 80 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: East Africa and eastward through northern Australia to Samoa; north to southern Japan. Replaced by closely related Sufflamen albicaudatus in the Red Sea (Ref. 37816). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-28; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 23-26. Juveniles dark brown above, white below (Ref. 1602). Adult variable in color; the bar running through the pectoral base can either be yellow or black, and some individuals may be largely yellowish posteriorly (Ref. 1602).
Description: Characterized further by longitudinal scale rows 41-47; presence of deep groove in front of eye; nearly straight dorsal and ventral head profiles; body with series of longitudinal ridges bearing small spiny tubercles, ridges extending forward to below middle of second dorsal fin; truncate to slightly rounded caudal fin (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabit coastal to outer reefs. Habitats from silty lagoons to pristine outer reef walls (Ref. 48637). Occur in shallow lagoon and seaward reefs. Solitary and territorial. Feed on a wide variety of invertebrates. Also taken by drive-in nets (Ref. 9770). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Monogamous (Ref. 52884). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 January 2022 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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