| Family: |
Balistidae (Triggerfishes) |
| Max. size: |
30 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 80 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: East Africa and eastward through northern Australia to Samoa; north to southern Japan. Replaced by closely related Sufflamen albicaudatus in the Red Sea (Ref. 37816). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-28; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 23-26. Juveniles dark brown above, white below (Ref. 1602). Adult variable in color; the bar running through the pectoral base can either be yellow or black, and some individuals may be largely yellowish posteriorly (Ref. 1602).
Description: Characterized further by longitudinal scale rows 41-47; presence of deep groove in front of eye; nearly straight dorsal and ventral head profiles; body with series of longitudinal ridges bearing small spiny tubercles, ridges extending forward to below middle of second dorsal fin; truncate to slightly rounded caudal fin (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabit coastal to outer reefs. Habitats from silty lagoons to pristine outer reef walls (Ref. 48637). Occur in shallow lagoon and seaward reefs. Solitary and territorial. Feed on a wide variety of invertebrates. Also taken by drive-in nets (Ref. 9770). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Monogamous (Ref. 52884). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 January 2022 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
Known from Calamianes Is. (Ref. 48613), Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon (Ref. 58652), Dauin-Apo I. (Ref. 127519), Nasugbu, Batangas (Ref. 107853), Lanuza Bay (Ref. 104756), San Juan,Batangas (Ref. 107854), Tañon Strait (Ref. 107276) and Davao Gulf (Ref. 106380). Edible but flesh may be poisonous (Ref. 12745). Also Ref. 48613, 53416, 121724. |
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