Balistes vetula

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Balistes vetula
Balistes vetula - 01.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Balistidae
Genus: Balistes
Species:
B. vetula
Binomial name
Balistes vetula
Synonyms [2]

The Queen Triggerfish (Balistes vetula) is a large triggerfish species found in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Its body coloration ranges from steel grey to olive green, but areas around its mouth is orange with striking electric blue rays. This species is commonly found in coral reefs or rocky bottoms of the sea. Its diet mainly composed of shelled invertebrates like crabs and sea urchins. When breeding, the queen triggerfish dig a sandpit with its fin to lay eggs and fiercely defend eggs. This species is an important food fish among Caribbean communities, often harvested by hook-and-lines or fish traps.

Contents

Taxonomy

Balistes vetula was first formally described in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae published in 1758 with its type locality given as Ascension Island. [3] In 1865 Pieter Bleeker designated this species as the type species of the genus Balistes . [4] Balistes is the type genus of the family Balistidae, which is classified in the suborder Balistoidei in the order Tetraodontiformes. [5]

Etymology

Balistes vetula is the type species of 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 vetula means "old woman" or "old wife", the Latin cognate of vieja, a Spanish name used in Cuba for this species which was recorded by the Cuban naturalist Antonio Parra in 1787. This name apparently follows a Portuguese tradition of some larger fishes common names which allude to women. George Shaw said "It is supposed to have obtained the popular title of Old Wife Fish from the appearance of the mouth when viewed in front, as well as from the slightly murmuring noise which it utters when first taken." [6]

Description

A queen triggerfish found in the Bahamas, its striking electric blue rays around the mouth is clearly visible Balistes vetula (queen triggerfish) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 4.jpg
A queen triggerfish found in the Bahamas, its striking electric blue rays around the mouth is clearly visible

Among all triggerfishes, the queen triggerfish is a fairly large species, often reaches a total length of 45 centimeters. [7] The female tends to be larger than male. [8] It is oval-shaped and laterally compressed, with small eyes close to the top of its head. [7] Despite having a small mouth, its jaw is extremely powerful and accompanied by sharp incisors. Compared to other larger triggerfishes with overlapped spread, such as grey triggerfish and ocean triggerfish, the queen triggerfish is easily recognizable with its color patterns. The body is generally steel grey to oval green, with orange parts below its mouth and pectoral fin. There are electric blue rays presented around its mouth, as well as dark blue lines radiating from its eyes. In addition, there’s a visible blue line at the end of the caudal fin. [9] Its first dorsal fin is triangular, with spines to stuck the fish into cervices when resting or escaping from predators. Its second dorsal fin and anal is very long and triangular, while its caudal fin is crescent-shaped. [7] The juvenile queen triggerfish has almost identical appearance, but is duller compared to an adult. [9] It can change colour somewhat to match its surroundings, or if subjected to stress. [10]

Distribution

The queen triggerfish could be found in the Atlantic waters, most commonly in warmer regions. In the Western Atlantic, its range spans from Massachusetts to Brazil, as well as the Caribbean Sea. It’s most common in Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. While on the Eastern Atlantic, its range stretches from the Azores to Southern Angola. [7]

Ecology

Habitat

A queen triggerfish found in the coral reef around Cozumel Island, Mexico Queen Triggerfish (Balistes vetula) (36643563746).jpg
A queen triggerfish found in the coral reef around Cozumel Island, Mexico

The queen triggerfish generally resides in rocky seabed or coral reefs, but is occasionally found in sandy seabed or seagrass meadows. It could inhabit in water as deep as 275m, but is most commonly found in much shallower water no deeper than 30m. [7]

Feeding

A front view of the queen triggerfish; It uses sharp incisors to crush hard shells of preys Queen Triggerfish (5295159271).jpg
A front view of the queen triggerfish; It uses sharp incisors to crush hard shells of preys

The queen triggerfish feeds on a variety of prey items, mainly on sea urchins, crabs and chitons, but also occasionally preys on shrimps, snails, bivalves, small fishes and brittle stars. [11] When feeding, it generally repeatedly bites the victim in order to crush its shell or detach it from the reef by sharp incisors. In this process, the queen triggerfish may swallow the prey and immediately split it out. Purposes of such behavior include to repositioning the prey for further bites or removing inedible parts. However, in occasions that it is foraging a more agile and fast-swimming prey, it would simply suck the prey into its mouth. [12]

Life cycle

The queen triggerfish breeds throughout the year. Larger females are thought to be capable of releasing eggs more than 80 times a year. Most breedings occur around the full moon. [8] It often migrates to a certain breeding ground for mating. [13] When breeding, it digs a shallow sand pit on seabed with its fin and lays eggs inside. After that, parent fishes would intensively take care of eggs and become extremely aggressive and territorial. It may use a membrane below its pectoral fins to make noise alerting other animals to stay away. [9] After hatching, larvae are often drifted away by ocean currents. [8] On average, male reaches maturity when 2.7 years old, while female reaches maturity at 4 years old. [8] [14] The maximum lifespan of the queen triggerfish is still debated. An otolith study from 1980s claimed that it could only live for 7 years, [15] while a later study of its growth pattern reports a lifespan of 14 years. [16] Analysis of bomb radiocarbon proposes a much longer lifespan of 40 years at maximum. [17]

Predators & parasites

In natural environment, main predators of queen triggerfishes are larger piscivorous reef fishes, such as jacks, groupers and sharks. [7] It is the host of whole variety of parasites including several species of copepods, isopods, leeches, tapeworms, flukes and nematodes. [18]

Relationship to humans

Interaction with divers

Generally speaking, the queen triggerfish is shy toward divers and often swim away when approached. Occasionally, it may show curiosity and swim around divers. [7] [10] However, it is incredibly aggressive when guarding eggs and could perform a nasty bite to divers if harassed. [7]

As aquarium fish

A queen triggerfish kept in National Aquarium in Baltimore Atlantic coral reef exhibit Baltimore Aquarium Balistes vetula.jpg
A queen triggerfish kept in National Aquarium in Baltimore

Due to its striking color, the queen triggerfish may be kept in an aquarium. Most individuals sold on market were captured from wild population in the Caribbeans. [19] However, due to its large size and territoriality, it requires a very large tank so is rarely placed in private aquariums. [7]

As food

The queen triggerfish is a staple food fish for many Latin American communities on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, [20] often harvested by hook-and-line or fish traps. [15] Also, it is commonly found as bycatch of commercial longline fisheries. [1] However, this fish may contain Ciguatoxin. [21]

Conservation

Populations of queen triggerfish in the U.S water and the Caribbean Sea are overall healthy. In addition to that, Puerto Rico and U.S Virgin Islands have protected its breeding grounds as no-take zones. However, its population in Brazilian water and the Gulf of Guinea has suffered disastrous decline, losing more than 90% of individuals since 1980s, primarily due to overfishing. [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.

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

The clown triggerfish, also known as the bigspotted triggerfish, is a demersal marine fish.

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

The reef triggerfish, also known as the rectangular triggerfish, wedgetail triggerfish or by its Hawaiian name humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, is one of several species of triggerfish. It is found in coral reefs in the entirety of the Western Pacific Ocean from North to South and Eastern Central Pacific. It is also found it the Indian Ocean from East to West and the Southeast Atlantic Ocean. It exists in 0 to 50 meters in depth.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted trunkfish</span> Species of fish

The spotted trunkfish is a member of the family Ostraciidae. It lives in reefs throughout the Caribbean, as well as the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. It gets its name from the black spots on its whitish or yellow-golden body. In Caribbean countries, it is colloquially known as the boxfish, cow-fish or shellfish.

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

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.

<i>Sufflamen bursa</i> Species of fish

Sufflamen bursa, sometimes known as Lei Triggerfish, bursa triggerfish, scythe triggerfish or boomerang triggerfish, is a triggerfish from the Indo-Pacific. Its name is derived from the two markings behind its eyes that wrap around the fish similar to a Hawaiian Lei. The color of these markings changes depending on the fish's mood, in which case the colors may alter from yellow, dark brown, and black. It is a species of reef fish found in reef ecosystems in the Indo-Pacific, including Japan, Australia, and Hawaii. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen parrotfish</span> Colorful species of fish in Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea

The queen parrotfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the family Scaridae. It is found on reefs in the tropical West Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Other common names include blownose, blue chub, blue parrotfish, blueman, joblin crow parrot, moontail, okra peji and slimy head. The young males and adult female queen parrotfish are a reddish-brown color, and quite different in appearance from the bluish-green color of the final phase male. This is a common species throughout its range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "least concern".

<i>Tripneustes ventricosus</i> Species of sea urchin

Tripneustes ventricosus, commonly called the West Indian sea egg or white sea urchin, is a species of sea urchin. It is common in the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas and Florida and may be found at depths of less than 10 metres (33 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smooth trunkfish</span> Species of fish

Lactophrys triqueter the smooth trunkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The smooth trunkfish is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Echinometra viridis</i> Species of sea urchin

Echinometra viridis, the reef urchin, is a species of sea urchin in the family Echinometridae. It is found on reefs in very shallow parts of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thornback cowfish</span> Species of fish

The thornback cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific from East Africa to the Bass Islands. It can grow to a maximum length of 23 cm (9 in). It is an uncommon fish that feeds on small invertebrates that it picks up off the sea bed.

<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.

<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.

<i>Canthidermis sufflamen</i> Species of triggerfish

Canthidermis sufflamen, the ocean triggerfish, is a species of pelagic triggerfish that can be found throughout the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, with its range extending as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Brazil.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Liu, J.; Zapfe, G.; Shao, K.-T.; et al. (2016) [errata version of 2015 assessment]. "Balistes vetula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T2539A97664057. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  2. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Balistes vetula". 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, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Balistidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes Classification". Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Christopher Scharpf (21 August 2024). "Order TETRAODONTIFORMES: Families MOLIDAE, BALISTIDAE, MONACANTHIDAE, ARACANIDAE and OSTRACIIDAE". Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bester, C. "Balistes vetula". Florida Museum of Natural History. University of Florida.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Rivera Hernández, J.M; Shervette, V.R (2024). "Queen Triggerfish Balistes vetula Age-Based Population Demographics and Reproductive Biology for Waters of the North Caribbean". Fishes. 9 (2): 162. doi: 10.3390/fishes9050162 .
  9. 1 2 3 Snyder, D.B; Burgess, G.H (2016). Marine Fishes of Florida. Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 312–315. doi:10.56021/9781421418728. ISBN   978-1-4214-1872-8.
  10. 1 2 Humann, Paul; Deloach, Ned (2002). Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (Third ed.). New World Publications. p. 394. ISBN   978-1878348302.
  11. ↑ Reinthal, P.N; Kensley, B; Lewis, S.M (1984). "Dietary Shifts in the Queen Triggerfish, Balistes vetula, in the Absence of its Primary Food Item, Diadema antillarum". Marine Ecology. 5 (2): 191–195. Bibcode:1984MarEc...5..191R. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0485.1984.tb00314.x.
  12. ↑ Turingan, R.G; Wainwright, P.C (1993). "Morphological and functional bases of durophagy in the queen triggerfish, Balistes vetula (Pisces, tetraodontiformes)". Journal of Morphology. 215 (2): 101–108. doi:10.1002/jmor.1052150202. PMID   29865433.
  13. ↑ Bryan, D.B; Feeley, M.W; Nemeth, R.S; Pollock, C; Ault, J.S (2019). "Home range and spawning migration patterns of queen triggerfish Balistes vetula in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands". Marine Ecology. 616: 123–139. Bibcode:2019MEPS..616..123B. doi:10.3354/meps12944.
  14. ↑ Rivera Hernández, J.M; Peña Alvarado, N; Correa Vélez, K; Nemeth, R; Appeldoorn, R; Shervette, V.R (2019). "Queen Triggerfish Reproductive Biology in U.S. Caribbean Waters". Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 148 (1): 134–147. Bibcode:2019TrAFS.148..134R. doi:10.1002/tafs.10124.
  15. 1 2 Manooch III, C.S; Drennon, C.L (1987). "Age and growth of yellowtail snapper and queen triggerfish collected from the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico". Fisheries Research. 6 (1): 53–68. Bibcode:1987FishR...6...53M. doi:10.1016/0165-7836(87)90006-3.
  16. ↑ de Albuquerque, C.Q; Martins, A.S; Leite Jr, N.O; Araújo, J.N; Ribeiro, A.M (2011). "Age and Growth of the Queen Triggerfish Batistes vetula (Tetraodontiformes, Balistidae) Of The Central Coast of Brazil". Brazilian Journal of Oceanography. 59 (3): 231–239. doi:10.1590/s1679-87592011000300003.
  17. ↑ Shervette, V.R; Rivera Hernández, J.M; Clayton, J.A.B (2022). "Queen triggerfish Balistes vetula: Validation of otolith-based age, growth, and longevity estimates via application of bomb radiocarbon". PLOS ONE. 17 (1): e0262281. Bibcode:2022PLoSO..1762281S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262281 . PMC   8740979 . PMID   34995331.
  18. ↑ Alves, D.R; Paraguassú, A.R; Luque, J.L (2005). "Community ecology of the metazoan parasites of the grey triggerfish, Balistes capriscus Gmelin, 1789 and queen triggerfish B. vetula Linnaeus,1758 (Osteichthyes: Balistidae) from the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil". Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria. 14 (2): 71–77. PMID   16153348.
  19. ↑ Brukner, A.W (2005). "The importance of the marine ornamental reef fish trade in the wider Caribbean". Revista de biología tropica. 53 (1): 127–137. PMID   17465152.
  20. ↑ Urquhart, J.P; Olson, D.B; Babcock, E.A (2023). "Generalized additive models for categorical count data: An exploration of the decline of queen triggerfish Balistes vetula in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos". Fisheries Management and Ecology. 30 (3): 257–268. Bibcode:2023FisME..30..257U. doi: 10.1111/fme.12617 .
  21. ↑ Pottier, Ivannah; Lewis, Richard J.; Vernoux, Jean-Paul (2023). "Ciguatera Fish Poisoning in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean: Reconciling the Multiplicity of Ciguatoxins and Analytical Chemistry Approach for Public Health Safety". Toxins. 15 (7): 453. doi: 10.3390/toxins15070453 . PMC   10467118 . PMID   37505722.
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