Clown Triggerfish
Scientific Name: Balistoides conspicillum
Equipped with powerful jaws and sharp teeth, triggerfish make noisy meals of hard-shelled reef creatures. These mighty jaws chew through just about anything they grab.
Region: Philippines
Appearance
This fish is one of the most easily recognizable fish in the world. Half is black with large white spots and the other half is predominantly black with a splotch of odd black shapes outlined in yellow. Painted in bright orange, the lips of this triggerfish resemble that of a clown. Clown triggerfish have two dorsal spines, one large followed by a smaller one. Adults can be up to 20 inches (50 cm) long.
As juveniles, clown triggerfish look a bit different than they do as adults. These young triggers have more white spots on their body, extending from the belly up to the back. They also have a yellow patch rather than yellow splotches on the back and they lack the bright orange "lipstick" of the adult.
Habitat
Clown triggerfish live on clear seaward reefs that are rich in corals. Adults swim alone along steep slopes at depths of 3 to 250 feet (1 to 75 m). Juveniles hide out in caves and under ledges below 67 feet (20 m) along steep drop-offs.
Range
Clown triggerfish live in the warm parts of the Pacific Ocean.
Diet
Eight teeth stick out of the front of the clown triggerfish’s mouth. Right behind those are six more teeth. And thick pharyngeal teeth or molar-like teeth line the throat. All these teeth in combination with a very strong jaw work to crush this clown’s hard-shelled prey like sea urchins, clams, snails, sea squirts, crabs and shrimp. To expose hiding prey, this fish blows jets of water out its mouth at the sand.
The eyes of the clown triggerfish are set high on its head. Each eye moves independently, giving it the ability to scan the entire reef at one time for food and predators.
Reproduction
Triggerfish breed in harems. There is one male for a group of two to five females. The males will guard a certain area or territory, protecting these females and their young.
Like most fish, clown triggerfish lay eggs. The male triggerfish fertilizes the eggs after they are laid in a nest by the female. The nest is built by the female, but the male cares for and guards the nest until the eggs hatch. When guarding the nest the male will attack any creatures, even unknowing divers, who wander too close. The female looks after the newly-hatched young. The eggs of a triggerfish are not white or clear like many other creatures’ eggs but green.
A species or group of organisms that is in danger of extinction or disappearing
from the face of the earth in the near future if its situation is not improved.
A species that can be found throughout its natural range but is declining in number and may become
endangered in the absence of special protection efforts.
A species that is not declining in number but is of special concern because it is sensitive to pressure by
particular human activities or natural events.
A species that is not declining in number and is not sensitive to pressures by human activities or natural
events.
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Threats and Management
Some of the larger clown triggerfish are caught and sold at markets as food.
Because of its wild colored coat, the clown triggerfish is one of the most sought after fish in the pet trade. Not only is it beautiful, this fish does well in the home aquarium.
Did You Know?
Triggerfish lock up for safety. When threatened, a triggerfish dives into a hole or crevice in the reef, then wedges itself into the shelter by erecting the large dorsal spine on its head. The spine is locked into place by a second, smaller spine behind it. Another spine on the fish's belly extends to help wedge the fish securely into its shelter. In case of an emergency, the powerful jaws grasp the wall of the hole providing additional security. Triggerfish also use this wedging behavior at night when they rest within the reef.
Fishers gave triggerfish their name when they figured out by pressing the second smaller dorsal spine causes the fish to unlock the larger spine.
The broom-like tail provides thrust for a quick dash into the protection of the reef. When pursued, triggerfish sometimes make grunting sounds.
It is one of the most highly prized aquarium fishes but also is one of the most aggressive.
Triggerfish speed through the water with ease. They can even move backward and forward, but they don’t move very fast. The long dorsal fin and the anal fin flutter and wave enabling the fish to maneuver around any obstacle on the reef.
References
Web Sites:
NOTE: The following Web sites are not maintained by the John G. Shedd Aquarium and will open in a new browser window.
Fishbase:
http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?
ID=2300&genusname=Balistoides&speciesname=conspicillum
Print Publications:
Dozier, T.A. 1977. Dangerous Sea Creatures. United States of America: Vineyard Books, Inc. 128p. ISBN# 0-913948-04-7.
Kuiter, R.H. 1998. Fishes of the Maldives. Australia: Atoll Editions. 256p. ISBN# 1-876410-18-3.
Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Barrigada, Guam: Coral Graphics. 216p.
ISBN# 0-9621564-4-2.
Perrine, D. 1997. Mysteries of the Sea. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International, Ltd. 312p. ISBN# 0-7853-2430-5.
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Vocabulary Words
Anal fin – the fin on the belly behind the anus.
Extinction – An organism that has not been present on the face of the earth for over 50 years.
Harem – A group of females that mate with one male.
Organism – A living thing.
Pet trade – An industry or business in which animals are taken from the wild and sold to pet stores, zoos, and aquariums.
Pharyngeal teeth – A powerful set of molar-like teeth in the throat of fish used to for grinding.
Species – A group of organisms capable of breeding and producing fertile offspring; organisms that share the same gene pool.
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