Green fish with diagonally curved orange lines across the body, narrow orange‑blue stripes from the mouth to below the pectoral fins, and a large black blotch at the base of the tail.

Orange-lined triggerfish

Balistapus undulatus
Where at Shedd?
Wild Reef
Diet Algae, corals, crustaceans, echinoderms, fishes, mollusks, sea squirts, sponges, worms and hydrozoans
Size Length: Up to 12 inches (30 cm)
Type Fishes
Range Coral reefs in lagoons and seaward reefs in the Indian and West-Central Pacific Oceans
Habitat Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Indian and west-central Pacific Oceans in coral-rich areas of lagoons and sea-facing reefs

Did you know?

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Triggerfish can move each eye independently.