Purple fish with a round body, small mouth, and forked tail.

Redtooth triggerfish

Odonus niger
Where at Shedd?
Wonder of Water Wild Reef
Diet Sponges, sea squirts and other invertebrates
Size Common length: 12 inches (30 cm)
Type Fishes
Range Reef channels, slopes and coral reefs with strong currents in the Indian and West-Central Pacific Oceans
Habitat Redtooth triggerfish live on rough seaward 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.