Clown triggerfish
📖 Overview
Lives in clear coastal to outer reef habitats . Occurs in clear seaward reefs adjacent to steep drop-offs. A solitary species . Uncommon to rare throughout most of its range . Adults usually seen along deep drop-offs, swimming about openly and may retreat to caves when approached. Juveniles secretive in small caves with rich invertebrate growth . Diet consists of sea urchins, crabs and other crustaceans, mollusks, and tunicates . Marketed fresh . Among the most highly prized aquarium fishes .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 27; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 21 - 27; Vertebrae: 18. Unique color pattern of large white spots on belly, black spots on yellow background on the back, yellow snout. A white or yellowish band across snout in front of eye. Lips and the area around mouth orange-yellow. A broad vertical white, slightly yellowish band on caudal fin. Scales enlarged above pectoral-fin base and just behind gill opening to form a flexible tympanum. Rows of small anteriorly projecting spines on caudal peduncle. A prominent groove extending anteriorly from front of eye for a distance of about 1 eye diameter. Mouth terminal. Caudal peduncle compressed (Ref 9770). 39-50 rows of plate-like scales.: short and / or deep; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Clown triggerfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Distinct pairing . Spawning occurs in patches of mixed coral rubble and sand on clear seaward reefs .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 75 m . Tropical; 43°N - 32°S, 31°E - 168°W East Africa eastward through northern Australia extending to Samoa; north to southern Japan.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Big-spotted Trigger-fish · Big-spotted Triggerfish · Clown Trigger-fish · Clown triggerfish · Pogo panau · bigspotted triggerfish |
| 🌍AFR | Nar-snellervis · Narsnellervis |
| 🏳️Catalan | Ballesta pallasso |
| 🌍CES | ostenec běloskvrnný |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Klovnaftrækkerfisk · Leopardaftrækkerfisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Leopard-Drückerfisch |
| 🌍DIV | Bis rondu · ބިސް ރޮނޑު |
| 🌍FIJ | cumu |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Pantterisäppikala |
| 🇫🇷French | Baliste clown · Baliste léopard · Baliste-clown |
| 🌍GLG | Peixe porco pallaso |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce balestra pagliaccio |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Mongarakawahagi · モンガラカワハギ |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 파랑쥐치 |
| 🌍MAH | Bub |
| 🌍MAL | Karatti · കരട്ടി · കരറ്റി |
| 🌍MLG | Tson Tso |
| 🌍MSA | Ayam laut · Jebong · Jebong badut · Triger kembang |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Luipaardtrekkervis |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Rogatnica jasnoplama |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Cangulo-palhaço · Porco palhaço |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Крупнопятнистый спинорог |
| 🌍SMO | Sumu-papa |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Ballesta Payaso |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Clowntryckare · Leopardtryckarfisk |
| 🌍TGL | Pakoy · Papakol |
| 🌍THA | ปลาวัวตัวตลก |
| 🌍VIE | Cá Bò gai vây |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 圓斑擬鱗魨 · 小丑砲彈 · 花斑擬板機魨 · 花斑擬鱗魨 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balistapus conspicillum | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Balistes conspicillum | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Balistes niger | Bonnaterre | 1788 | Synonym |
| Balistoides conspicillium | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Guaperva maculata | Sonnerat | 1774 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .
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