Latin name

Balistoides conspicillum

Other names

Bigspotted triggerfish

Identification

Body wedge-shaped, flat, high, keel semicircular. Head large, mouth small, with 8 large teeth on each jaw. Tail small, with a straight or rounded edge, the stalk compressed at the sides. The scales are large and bony. The fish can lock the first thorn of the dorsal fin into an upright position with the second thorn. The jaws are so strong that they can easily open clam and crab shells. The eyes move independently. It can make grunting sounds with the help of a swim bladder.

Features of fish fins

The soft anal fin has 21-27 rays.

Fish colouring

Bright orange lips framed by a pale band and large white oval spots on the underside of the body provide a striking contrast to the darker upper half of the body. The tail and dorsal fins are green. 

Distribution

Widespread in the Indian Ocean and part of the Pacific Ocean, Australia (Great Barrier Reef). 

Habitat

The natural habitat is coastal coral reefs at depths of 50 to 75 metres.

Size

The body length is 50 centimetres.

Behavior

It is usually solitary. In the dark and in danger, it crawls into crevices and rests its thorns on the walls. Life expectancy is up to 10 years.

Food and feeding habits

Omnivorous. They feed mainly on corals, molluscs, sea urchins, crustaceans and algae. 

Reproduction

There are no sex differences in these fish. Eggs float in the nest, a shallow hole in the bottom. Parents actively protect the clutch until the larvae emerge from the eggs.  The hatched larvae float in the water. Juveniles live in deep water until they grow to 15-20 cm. 

Fishing

It has no commercial value.

Relationship with a person

Suitable for aquarium breeding. They bite a lot.