| Family: |
Balistidae (Triggerfishes) |
| Max. size: |
30 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 8 - 150 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Mauritius eastward through northern Australia to the Hawaiian and Society islands, north to southern Japan. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-30; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 25-27. Females lack the blue chins of males and yellow margins on fins.
Description: Characterized by bluish grey body color with white spots on body in horizontal rows; chin and lower chic with large blue patch; first dorsal fin black; median fins with yellow margins; presence of deep groove in front of eye; longitudinal scale rows 42-47; scale rows on cheek separated by five horizontal grooves; moderately convex dorsal and ventral head profiles; body with series of longitudinal ridges bearing small spiny tubercles, ridges extending forward to pectoral fins; rounded to truncate, emarginate, and slightly double emarginate caudal fin (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Occur in upper margins of current-swept seaward drop-offs and ledges (Ref. 205, 48637). Current-prone and with rich invertebrate growth such as seawhips. Usually found at moderate depths over 20 meters and occuring in small loose groups (Ref. 48637). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Form loose aggregations a few meters above the bottom where it feeds on zooplankton, particularly copepods. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Also taken by drive-in nets (Ref. 9770). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 January 2022 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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