Blackpatch Triggerfish

Scientific Name: Rhinecanthus verrucosus
Species: Triggerfishes (Balistidae)
Other names: Blackblotch Triggerfish, Blackbelly Triggerfish, Bursa Triggerfish, Bursa Trigger.

Some Images

Description

Also known as Blackblotch Triggerfish, Blackbelly Triggerfish, Bursa Triggerfish and Bursa Trigger.

Found singly or in small groups on shallow seagrass beds, mixed coral and rubble areas in silty habitat.
The females guard their nest aggressively.
They feed on a wide range of food items, including live coral, algae, sea urchins, crabs, molluscs and other invertebrate groups as well as fish and sea squirts.
Length - 23cm
Depth - 2-20m
Widespread Indo-Asian Pacific

Triggerfish have a hard spine dorsal fin that can be locked.
When sleeping this spine is used to wedge them into place in a crevasse and so deter predators from pulling them out of their bed!
The spine is also held erect as a warning to other fish to stay away.
Several large Titans blow shallow depressions in the sand for nesting and if approached will raise this spine as a warning, if ignored they may charge, even divers! especially the Titan Triggerfish who will take a tasty bite!! Beware!!!

Spotted

The Blackpatch Triggerfish has been photographed 2 times by user @fishx6