The Triggerfish

Triggerfish - Balistes carolinensis
Wide, oval body, highly compressed and covered in thick, rough, scales. Pointed nose and strong incisors. Forward dorsal fin has large spiny rays which can be blocked in the erect position. Blue-grey and marbled, with blotches on the fins. Found close to rocky bottoms, from 4-5 metres to 100 metres. Maximum size 45 centimetres.

Triggerfish are about 40 species of often brightly colored fishes of the family Balistidae. Often marked by lines and spots, they inhabit tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world-
Some triggerfish species can be quite aggressive when guarding their eggs. Both the picasso (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) and titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) viciously defend their nests against intruders, including scuba divers and snorkelers. Their territory extends in a cone from the nest toward the surface, so swimming upwards can put a diver further into the fishes' territory; a horizontal swim away from the nest site is best when confronted by an angry triggerfish. Unlike the relatively small picasso triggerfish, the titan triggerfish poses a serious threat to inattentive divers due to its large size and powerful teeth.

Triggerfish

Triggerfish in company