Triggerfish

Triggerfish Temporal range: Eocene–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Lagoon triggerfish
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Tetraodontiformes
Family:	Balistidae A. Risso, 1810
Genera[1]
Abalistes Balistapus Balistes Balistoides Canthidermis Melichthys Odonus Pseudobalistes Rhinecanthus Sufflamen Xanthichthys Xenobalistes

Triggerfish are about 40 species of often brightly colored fish of the

The largest member of the family, the stone triggerfish (Pseudobalistes naufragium) reaches 1 m (3.3 ft),^[4] but most species have a maximum length between 20 and 50 cm (8–20 in).^[2]

Triggerfish have an oval-shaped, highly compressed body. The head is large, terminating in a small but strong-jawed mouth with teeth adapted for crushing shells. The eyes are small, set far back from the mouth, at the top of the head. The

The two

As a protection against predators, triggerfish can erect the first two dorsal spines: The first (anterior) spine is locked in place by erection of the short second spine, and can be unlocked only by depressing the second, "trigger" spine, hence the family name "triggerfish".

With the exception of a few species from the genus Xanthichthys, the sexes of all species in this family are similar in appearance.

Image	Genus	Living species
	Abalistes D. S. Jordan & Seale, 1906	Abalistes filamentosus Matsuura & Yoshino, 2004 J. G. Schneider , 1801) Abalistes stellatus Anonymous, referred to Lacépède, 1798
	Balistapus Tilesius, 1820	Balistapus undulatus M. Park, 1797
	Balistes Linnaeus, 1758	Balistes capriscus J. F. Gmelin , 1789 Balistes ellioti Day, 1889 Balistes polylepis Steindachner, 1876 Balistes punctatus J. F. Gmelin, 1789 Balistes vetula Linnaeus, 1758
	Balistoides Fraser-Brunner, 1935	J. G. Schneider , 1801) J. G. Schneider , 1801)
	Canthidermis Swainson, 1839	Canthidermis macrolepis Boulenger, 1888 Canthidermis maculata Bloch, 1786 Canthidermis rotundatus (Marion de Procé, 1822) Mitchill , 1815 Canthidermis willughbeii (Lay & Bennett, 1839)
	Melichthys Swainson, 1839	Melichthys indicus J. E. Randall & Klausewitz , 1973 Melichthys niger Bloch , 1786 Melichthys vidua J. Richardson , 1845
	Odonus Gistel, 1848	Odonus niger Rüppell, 1836
	Pseudobalistes Bleeker, 1865	Pseudobalistes flavomarginatus Rüppell , 1829 J. G. Schneider , 1801) Pseudobalistes naufragium D. S. Jordan & Starks , 1895
	Rhinecanthus Swainson, 1839	Rhinecanthus abyssus Matsuura & Shiobara, 1989 Rhinecanthus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758 Rhinecanthus assasi Forsskål, 1775 Rhinecanthus cinereus Bonnaterre, 1788 Rhinecanthus lunula J. E. Randall & Steene, 1983 J. G. Schneider , 1801 Rhinecanthus verrucosus Linnaeus, 1758
	Sufflamen D. S. Jordan, 1916	Sufflamen albicaudatum Rüppell , 1829 J. G. Schneider , 1801 J. G. Schneider , 1801 Sufflamen fraenatum Latreille , 1804 Sufflamen verres C. H. Gilbert & Starks , 1904
	Xanthichthys Kaup, 1856	Xanthichthys auromarginatus E. T. Bennett , 1832 Xanthichthys caeruleolineatus J. E. Randall, Matsuura & Zama, 1978 Pyle & Earle , 2013 Xanthichthys lima (Bennett, 1832) Xanthichthys lineopunctatus Hollard , 1854 Xanthichthys mento D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1882 Xanthichthys ringens Linnaeus, 1758
	Xenobalistes Matsuura, 1981	Xenobalistes tumidipectoris Matsuura, 1981

Behavior

The anatomy of the triggerfish reflects its typical diet of slow-moving, bottom dwelling

Some triggerfish species can be quite aggressive when guarding their eggs. Both the Picasso (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) and titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) viciously defend their nests against intruders, including scuba divers and snorkelers. Their territory extends in a cone from the nest toward the surface, so swimming upwards can put a diver further into the fishes' territory; a horizontal swim away from the nest site is best when confronted by an angry triggerfish. Unlike the relatively small Picasso triggerfish, the titan triggerfish poses a serious threat to inattentive divers due to its large size and powerful teeth.^[6]

Male territoriality

Triggerfish males migrate to their traditional spawning sites prior to mating and establish territories. Some male species (i.e.

Spawning and biparental care

Triggerfish spawning is timed in relation to lunar cycles, tides, and time of changeover of tides. In relation to lunar cycles, eggs are observed 2–6 days before the full moon and 3–5 days before the new moon. In relation to tides, spawning happens 1–5 days before the spring tide. In relation to timing of tides, eggs are observed on days when high tides take place around sunset.^[9]

Male and female triggerfish perform certain prespawning behaviors: blowing and touching.

Triggerfish lay their demersal eggs in a small hole dug in the sea bottom. Off Florida, juveniles of some species of triggerfishes are found in floating Sargassum, where they feed on the small shrimp, crabs, and mollusks found there.^[12]

Edibility

Some species of triggerfish, such as the titan triggerfish, may be

• 
  The reef triggerfish is the state fish of Hawaii.
• 
  Most triggerfish are aggressive, but few match the orange-lined triggerfish.^[3]
• 
  The

  sexually dimorphic

  triggerfish. The female lacks the blue throat and yellow fin-edging.
• 
  The redtoothed triggerfish is one of the relatively few planktivores of the family.
• 
  The

  queen triggerfish

  has elegant extensions to its fins.
• 
  Adult

  banks, but juveniles live around sargassum

  .