Black triggerfish
📖 Overview
Inhabit clear seaward reefs. More common around oceanic islands . Found on inner and outer reef crests, usually near the slope or drop-off to deeper water, where in small but loose aggregations. Sometimes swim high above substrate feeding on zooplankton . May also be solitary . Benthopelagic . Diet consists primarily of calcareous algae and zooplankton ; also feed on phytoplankton . At Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, southeast Atlantic, groups of about 100 individuals join groups of spinner dolphins to feed on feces and vomits of the cetaceans when they congregate in a shallow bay for rest and social interactions. The postures a dolphin adopts prior to defecating or vomiting are recognized, and the fish begin to converge to the dolphin shortly before the actual voiding. Offal feeding may be regarded as a simple behavioral shift from plankton feeding to drifting offal picking . Marketed fresh . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 30 - 34; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 28 - 30. This species is distinguished by the following characters: a deep groove in front of eye; 20-25 head scale rows from corner of mouth to lower end of gill opening; 57-66 body scale rows from upper end of gill opening to caudal fin base; presence of prominent longitudinal ridges following scale rows of posterior body; slightly rounded to double emarginate caudal fin; a thin white bar neat posterior margin of the caudal fin; black spots on scales forming lines .: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Black triggerfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Black triggerfish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 75 m , usually 0 - 20 m . Tropical; 30°N - 29°S, 180°W - 180°E
🌿 Ecology
phytoplankton (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balistes fuscolineatus | Seale | 1901 | Synonym |
| Balistes kib | Montrouzier | 1857 | Synonym |
| Balistes kibitar | Montrouzier | 1857 | Synonym |
| Balistes mauritianus | Regan | 1903 | Synonym |
| Balistes niger | Bloch | 1786 | Synonym |
| Balistes piceus | Poey | 1863 | Synonym |
| Balistes radula | Solander | 1848 | Synonym |
| Balistes ringens | Osbeck | 1765 | Synonym |
| Balistes sillone | Le Danois | 1961 | Synonym |
| Balistes verrucosus | Gronow | 1854 | Heterotypic |
| Melichthys bispinosus | Gilbert | 1890 | Synonym |
| Melichthys piceus | Poey | 1863 | Synonym |
| Melichthys radula | Solander | 1848 | Synonym |
| Melichthys ringens | Osbeck | 1765 | Synonym |
| Melicthys niger | Bloch | 1786 | Synonym |
| Melicthys radula | Solander | 1848 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 24 records indexed .
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