Balistes punctatus

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Balistes punctatus
Balistes punctatus.png
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Balistidae
Genus: Balistes
Species:
B. punctatus
Binomial name
Balistes punctatus
Synonyms [2]

Balistes punctatus, the bluespotted triggerfish or spotted triggerfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Balistidae, the triggerfishes. This species occurs in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean off the Western coast of Africa.

Contents

Taxonomy

Balistes punctatus was first formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin with the type locality given as the "Indian Ocean". [3] This species is classified within the genus Balistes , the type genus of the family Balistidae, which is classified in the suborder Balistoidei in the order Tetraodontiformes. [4]

Etymology

Balistes punctatus is classified in the genus Balistes, a name which refers to the first spine of the dorsal fin being locked in place by the erection of the shorter second trigger spine, and unlocked by depressing the second spine. Balistes is taken directly from the Italian pesca ballista, the "crossbow fish". Ballista originally being a machine for throwing arrows. The specific name punctatusmeans "spotted" and is a reference to the spots on the body and base of the dorsal fin. [5]

Description

Balistes punctatus has a deep and laterally compressed body. There are 3 spines on the first dorsal fin and there are between 1 and 3 spines and 26 to 28 soft rays in the second dorsal fin, with the third to sixth rays o=in the second dorsal fin are filamentous and grow beyond the fin membrane. The anal fin contains around 22–24 rays. The caudal peduncle is laterally compressed, and the upper and lower rays in the caudal fin are elongated. The overall colour is grey to brown with a pattern of dark spots covering almost all of the body and to the rear of the eyes, the spots fade towards the belly which is unspotted. There are 5 or 6 pale radial bluish stripes which are visible to the front of the lower orbit and there are curved pale blue lines that extend backwards and downwards across the snout, behind the mouth. There are verical, vertical undulating lines abve the base of the anal fin. Both the caudal fin and the dorsal fin have black spots, as does the base of the pectoral fin. The area immediately behind the head is bright yellow. The upper base of the caudal fin has a black blotch. [6] The bluespotted triggerfish has a maximum published total length of 60 cm (24 in), although typically this is 25 cm (9.8 in), and a maximum weight of 1.8 kg (4.0 lb). [2]

Distribution and habitat

Balistes punctatus is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean along the coast of Western Africa, between Morocco and Angola. It is also found in Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands and the islands in the Gulf of Guinea. [1] There is a record from the eastern Mediterranean Sea off Lebanon in June 2020, thought to be a released aquarium fish. [6] It is found at depths down to 200 m (660 ft) in coastal waters on sandy and riocky bottoms. [2]

Conservation status

Balistes puncatus has a relatively wide distribution but the triggerfish catch has declined in the decades leading up to 2025 in Togo and Ghana. The biomass of the bluespotted triggerfish has decreased from the late 1980s despite the same fishing effort being made and in 1989-91 almost no triggerfish were caught in Ghanaian coastal waters. There were some indications that the fishery was possibly under-exploited, and the significant decline in biomass was due to changes in environmental conditions. However, the triggerfish fishery in Ghana remains inactive, and the IUCN have stated that more research is needed on why this species has declined. A decline of more than 99% has been recorded in the Gulf of Guinea in the three generation lengths up to 2015. In all, the overall population has been assessed to have declined by over 30%. The IUCN has listed the bluespotted triggerfish as Vulnerable and calls for research to ensure that it is not more threatened. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triggerfish</span> Family of ray-finned fishes

Triggerfish are about 40 species of often brightly colored marine rey-finned fishes belonging to the family Balistidae. Often marked by lines and spots, they inhabit tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, with the greatest species richness in the Indo-Pacific. Most are found in relatively shallow, coastal habitats, especially at coral reefs, but a few, such as the oceanic triggerfish, are pelagic. While several species from this family are popular in the marine aquarium trade, they are often notoriously ill-tempered.

<i>Abalistes</i> Genus of fishes

Abalistes is a small genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Balistidae, the triggerfishes. These triggerfishes are found in the Indo-Pacific and eastern Atlantic. This genus contains two recognised species.

<i>Abalistes stellatus</i> Species of fish

Abalistes stellatus, the starry triggerfish or flat-tailed triggerfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Balistidae, the triggerfishes. This triggerfish has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange-lined triggerfish</span> Species of fish

The orange-lined triggerfish, also known as the orangestripe triggerfish, red-lined triggerfish, striped triggerfish or vermiculated triggerfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Balistidae, the triggerfishes. This species is the only species in the monospecific genus Balistapus, which is closely related to the genus Balistoides, if that genus is reclassified as a monospecific genus with the clown triggerfish as its only species. The orange-lined triggerfish has a wide Indo-Pacific range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey triggerfish</span> Species of fish

The grey triggerfish, or gray triggerfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the triggerfish family Balistidae, the triggerfishes. The species is native to shallow parts of the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Argentina and also the eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and off Angola on the west coast of Africa.

<i>Balistes</i> Genus of fishes

Balistes is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Balistidae, the triggerfishes. The triggerfishes in this genus are found in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Balistes vetula</i> Species of fish

Balistes vetula, the queen triggerfish or old wife, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the triggerfish family, Balistidae. This species is found in the Atlantic Ocean. It is occasionally caught as a gamefish, and sometimes kept in very large marine aquaria.

<i>Caprichthys</i> Monospecific genus of fish

Caprichthys is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. The only species in the genus is the rigid boxfish, also known as the black-spotted boxfish or ornate pigmy boxfish which is endemic to southwestern Australia.

Polyplacapros is a monospecific genus of ray-finned fish beloning to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deep water boxfishes. The only species in the genus is Polyplacapros tyleri, Tyler's boxfish, which is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Balistoides</i> Genus of fishes

Balistoides is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Balistidae, the triggerfishes. The triggerfishes in this genus are found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Triacanthus</i> Genus of fishes

Triacanthus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Triacanthidae, the triplespines or tripodfishes. The two species in this genus are found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Ostracion rhinorhynchos</i> Species of fish

Ostracion rhinorhynchos, the horn-nosed boxfish or torpedo boxfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This fish occurs in the Indo-West Pacific region.

<i>Aracana ornata</i> Species of fish

Aracana ornata, the ornate cowfish or ornate boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This species is endemic to the seas off southern Australia.

<i>Aracana aurita</i> Species of fish

Aracana aurita, Shaw's cowfish, painted boxfish, Southern cowfish or striped cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This species is endemic to the seas off southern Australia.

<i>Abalistes filamentosus</i> Species of fish

Abalistes filamentosus, the hairfin triggerfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Balistidae, the triggerfishes. It is found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and in subtropical waters. It lives in the Pelagic-Neritic zone of the ocean between 61–180 meters deep. It is harmless to humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shortnose boxfish</span> Species of fish

The Shortnose boxfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Balistes polylepis</i> Species of fish

Balistes polylepis, the finescale triggerfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Balistidae, the triggerfishes. This triggerfish is found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Kentrocapros rosapinto, the basketfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deepwater boxfishes. This fish is found in the Western Indian Ocean and in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean.

Kentrocapros spilonotus, the Hawaiian basketfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deepwater boxfishes. This species is known from two places in the Hawaiian Islands, one near Laysan and the other is the Penguin Bank.

<i>Ostracion cyanurus</i> Species of fish

Ostracion cyanurus, the bluetail trunkfish, Arabian trunkfish or Red Sea boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found in the Western Indian Ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tighe, K. (2015). "Balistes punctatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T193700A2262650. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T193700A2262650.en . Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Balistes punctatus". FishBase . June 2024 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Balistes". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes Classification". Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  5. ↑ Christopher Scharpf (21 August 2024). "Order TETRAODONTIFORMES: Families MOLIDAE, BALISTIDAE, MONACANTHIDAE, ARACANIDAE and OSTRACIIDAE". Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  6. 1 2 Michel Bariche; Diala Edde; and Nancy Sayar (2021). "Ornamental fishes in the Mediterranean Sea: first records of Holacanthus bermudensis Goode, 1876, Balistes punctatus Gmelin, 1789, Rhinecanthus assasi (Forsskål, 1775), and an unidentified tropical damselfish" (PDF). BioInvasions Records. pp. 904–913.
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