33 photos -
16 species
Introduction
There are 12 genera and 43 species.
Triggerfish get their name from a special mechanism in their dorsal fin.
A first strong spine can be stretched upright
so that the fish can clamp itself in a reef crevice to sleep at night.
The second, somewhat smaller spine relaxes the first when it is pressed.
Reproduction: They lay their eggs on the seabed in a hollow
and guard them until they hatch.
The eggs are very aggressively protected,
they attack anything that comes too close to their clutch.
Otherwise very peaceful.
Depending on the species, they reach a size of between 16 cm and 1 m.
Balistapus undulatus
Orange-lined triggerfish
Maximum length: 30 cm
Depth: 1 - 40 m
Green body with orange stripes.
Found in lagoons and coral-rich outer reefs.
Digs shallow nest cavities in rubble or sand.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North - Sulawesi
Photo 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Balistes vetula
Queen triggerfish or Old wife
Maximum length: 60 cm
Depth 3 - 15 m
The tips of their dorsal and caudal fins are elongated.
The face has two blue stripes and small lines radiating from the eye.
Their body color varies from purple to blue, and from turquoise to green.
Favorite food: Sea urchins.
Relatively shy fish, very difficult to approach.
Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Balistoides conspicillum
Clown triggerfisch or Bigspotted triggerfish
Maximum length: 35 cm
Depth: 5 - 60 m
Lives mainly as a solitary fish.
Very beautiful coloration and cannot be overlooked under water.
Photo 1 Johnny: Embudu Maldives
Balistoides viridescens
Titan triggerfish, Giant triggerfish or Moustache triggerfish
Maximum length: 75 cm
Depth: 5 - 35 m
While guarding the nest, it is very aggressive,
as soon as you approach it,
it attacks immediately and the bites of its large teeth
can cause serious injuries and are very painful.
Photo 1 Johnny: El Qesir Egypt
Photo 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Canthidermis sufflamen
Ocean triggerfish
Maximum length: 60 cm
Depth: 12 - 35 m
Gray with a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin.
Swims alone or in small groups in open water, steep drop-offs and in the area of outer reefs.
Shy, likes to keep its distance.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Melichthys niger
Black triggerfish or Black durgon
Maximum length: 40 cm
Depth: 5 - 35 m
Black body with a pale blue seam on the back and anal fin.
Usually seen in small aggregations over reefs.
Very shy.
Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Melichthys vidua
Pinktail triggerfish
Maximum length: 35 cm
Depth: 4 - 60 m
Black fringed anal and dorsal fins.
Inhabits clear outer reefs individually or in loose groups.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bangla Island North Sulawesi
Odonus niger
Redtoothed triggerfish
Maximum length: 40 cm
Depth: 1 - 55 m
Dark blue body and red teeth.
Usually in large schools in open water, hunting zooplankton,
difficult to swim to as they quickly hide in reef crevices, with only the tail sticking out.
Very shy.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North - Sulawesi
Photo 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus
Yellowmargin triggerfish, Pineapple triggerfisch, Yellowface triggerfish or Yellowface triggerfish
Maximum length: 60 cm
Depth: 2 - 50 m
Yellow fin edges and a pink mouth.
Lives in deep bays, channels and lagoons.
Their mound nests are in sandy channels or in seagrass.
They are aggressive near the nest.
Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Pseudobalistes fuscus
Blue triggerfish, Rippled triggerfish, Yellow-spotted triggerfish or Blue-and-gold triggerfish
Maximum length 55 cm
Depth: 1 - 50 m
Very shy.
Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Hurghada Embudu
Rhinecanthus assasi
Assasi triggerfish or Arabian picassofish
Maximum length: 30 cm
Depth: 2 - 15 m
Bright blue eye stripes.
Found on shallow outer reefs and in sheltered lagoons.
Shy, always close to hiding places.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Rhinecanthus rectangulus
Reef triggerfish, Rectangular triggerfish or Wedgetail triggerfish
Maximum length: 25 cm
Depth: 1 - 20 m
Often solitary, territorial in the intertidal area.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Rhinecanthus verrucosus
Blackbelly triggerfish
Maximum length: 25 cm
Depth: 3 - 45 m
Very similar to Rhinecanthus verrucosus (see above), but has a black belly spot.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Sufflamen albicaudatum
Bluetroath triggerfish
Maximum length: 22 cm
Depth: 2 - 20 m
Brown body with a white-edged tail.
In sheltered outer reefs and shallow lagoons, usually over rubble and sand near low corals.
Shy, in case of danger it flees into caves.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Photo 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Sufflamen bursa
Lei triggerfish, Bursa triggerfish, Scythe triggerfish or
Boomerang triggerfish
Maximum length: 24 cm
Depth: 3 - 90 m
Two brown or yellow, slightly curved stripes behind the eye.
Prefers outer reefs below the surf zone.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Sufflamen fraenatum
Masked triggerfish
Maximum length: 38 cm
Depth: 8 - 180 m
This photo shows a juvenile brown triggerfish,
so its colors are not yet fully developed.
Adults have a diagonal yellow stripe from the corner of the mouth
to the back and a white ring on the caudal peduncle.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi