Grey Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus)

Also known as Common Triggerfish, Filefish, Pig-faced, Turbot

Description

Also known as Common Triggerfish, Filefish, Pig-faced, Turbot.

Found singly or in small schools, in bays, harbours, lagoons, and seaward reefs, also drifting with their young, amongst seagrass beds.
They feed on crustaceans, benthic invertebrates, and molluscs.
Sea Urchins are their favourite food, they eat them by blowing water at them to overturn them and then attacking the soft area underneath.
Length - 60cm
Depth - 0-100m
Widespread Eastern Atlantic, Western Atlantic, Caribbean

These are the workers of the reef, often busy turning over rocks, stirring up the sand and biting off pieces of branching coral. This is why one often sees other smaller fish species around it who feed from the left overs.
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!!! Ref: https://www.fishbase.de/summary/7327

Related creatures

Heads up! Many creatures change during their life. Juvenile fish become adults and some change shape or their colour. Some species change sex and others just get older. The following creature(s) are known relatives of the Grey Triggerfish. Click the image(s) to explore further or hover over to get a better view!

Grey Triggerfish (Juvenile)

Grey Triggerfish (Juvenile)

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1 comment

  1. Posted by Beth Verneris
    March 22, 2018 at 03:37 am - 1 person found this useful.

    Hi, first im bot an Angler, I walked the Beach from Clearwater Beach towards Indian Rocks Beach. Id come apon a beautiful Fish gulping for life, I didnt touch it not knowing. But every time I got him in the Water, he'd come back to shore and die. I want to know what kind of Fish it was. It was like 3 sided, and blue with polka dots purplish pink. Thank you for this site. Ive learned a lot.....

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