WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Bridled Triggerfish

Sufflamen fraenatum

Also known as: Bridled Trigger, Brown Triggerfish, Masked Filefish, Masked Triggerfish, Starry Triggerfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@perigor2000 · Banda is, Indonesia · February 20111 / 3
01

Overview

Found singly, over open bottoms scattered with coral and rubble, on silty seaward reefs. When alarmed their colour can change from light too dark.

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

Fins & Tail
brown tail
Head & Mouth
blue lips

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 3
LIVES IN

Found singly, over open bottoms scattered with coral and rubble, on silty seaward reefs.

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. genusSufflamen
    7. speciesSufflamen fraenatum (Latreille, 1804)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Triggerfishes (Balistidae)