WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Bluespotted Triggerfish

Balistes punctatus

Also known as: Gold Heart Trigger, Golden Heart Triggerfish, Spotted Triggerfish

VUVulnerableIUCN Red List, 2015
Adult
@MaastrichianGuy · Rainforest Cafe (Disney Springs), United States · August 20181 / 3
01

Overview

Found over rock and sandy bottoms, in coastal waters.

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.

02

How to identify

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Eastern Atlantic
  • Country only · 3
LIVES IN

Found over rock and sandy bottoms, in coastal waters.

04

Adult photos 3

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderTetraodontiformes
    5. familyBalistidae
    6. genusBalistes
    7. speciesBalistes punctatus Gmelin, 1789

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Triggerfishes (Balistidae)