| Family: |
Balistidae (Triggerfishes) |
| Max. size: |
60 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 2 - 80 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to East Africa eastward through northern Australia reaching Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-27; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 22-25. Scales relatively large (Ref. 9002).
Description: Characterized further by pale snout and cheeks; generally greyish yellow with crosshatch pattern on side; uniform yellow-orange on snout and lower head; median fins with yellow margins; front of eye with deep groove; longitudinal rows of small spines on posterior body 5-6; rounded to emarginate caudal fin (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits coastal to inner reefs and estuaries, often in silty habitats (Ref. 48637). Found on lagoon slope and floor (Ref. 30573), also coral reefs. Generally solitary or in pairs (Ref. 4420). Young form small aggregations when common while adults are usually seen solitary, except when nesting and males congregate on certain sand flats adjacent to reefs (Ref. 48637). Feeds on tips of coral branches, gastropods, crustaceans, foraminiferans, and tunicates (Ref. 1602) and also on sea urchins (Ref. 9770). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Nest-guarding females are aggressive (Ref. 9770). Also caught with drive-in nets. Marketed fresh and dried-salted (Ref. 9770). Ciguatoxic in certain areas (Ref. 37816). Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 January 2022 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
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