WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Pinktail Triggerfish

Melichthys vidua

Also known as: Paddlefin Triggerfish, Pinktail Durgon, Pinktail Trigger, Pink-tailed Trigger, Pink-tailed Triggerfish, White-tailed Triggerfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2022
Adult
@straal · Amed, Indonesia · June 20111 / 7
01

Overview

Found singly or in small loose schools, over exposed, current swept, seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.

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

COLOURS
Head & Mouth
yellow face

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Dive site · 2
  • Country only · 5
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small loose schools, over exposed, current swept, seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 7

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. genusMelichthys
    7. speciesMelichthys vidua (Richardson, 1845)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Triggerfishes (Balistidae)