Canthidermis sufflamen | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
Family: | Balistidae |
Genus: | Canthidermis |
Species: | C. sufflamen |
Binomial name | |
Canthidermis sufflamen Mitchill, 1815 | |
Canthidermis sufflamen, the ocean triggerfish, is a species of pelagic triggerfish that can be found throughout the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, [2] with its range extending as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Brazil. [3]
Canthidermis sufflamen is gray in color, oval-shaped, and can often be distinguished from the similar-appearing gray triggerfish ( Balistes capriscus ) by the presence of a black blotch at the base of each pectoral fin. [3]
The ocean triggerfish has a wide range and is considered a common to uncommon inhabitant of waters off of Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean islands. Its range extends as far north as Massachusetts, as far south as Brazil, westward to the Gulf of Mexico, and eastward to Bermuda and the Portuguese island of Madeira. [3]
These fish are usually found in open water, far above coral reefs and often near sharp drop-offs. The females lay eggs in sandy areas and remain near their nests to defend them against predators. [3]
The species was first described by Samuel L. Mitchill, M.D. in Transactions of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York (1815) as the "trigger file-fish," Balistes sufflamen. The fish is dove- or ash-colored with a body fourteen inches long and five inches deep, excluding the dorsal fin, which can be collapsed into a furrow along the spine. The three spines on the first dorsal fin resemble the lock of a gun, with the rostral spine being the gun cock, and the caudal spine being the trigger. Canthidermis sufflamen has large, light brown eyes and frequently has darker colored areas at the bases of the pectoral fins and between the dorsal and anal fins. [4] The darkness of the spot at the base of the pectoral fin has been noted to vary in individuals from different geographic regions. [5]
According to meristic data in a 2003 NOAA Technical Memorandum, the ocean triggerfish has seven precaudal and eleven caudal vertebrae, for a total vertebral count of eighteen. The first dorsal fin has three spines, the second dorsal fin has between 25 and 28 rays (mode: 27), the anal fin has between 23 and 25 rays (mode: 24), the pectoral fins have either fifteen or sixteen rays each (mode: 15), and the caudal fin has twelve rays. The pelvic fin in this species is rudimentary and has been reduced to a single rayless tubercle. [2]
The diet of the ocean triggerfish is composed of a wide variety of invertebrates, including soft corals, hydroids, zooplankton, small shrimp and crabs, benthic gastropods and bivalves, pelagic jellyfish, sea stars, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. [6]
This species is considered extremely useful for ecosystem management in the Canary Islands because it preys on sea urchins (Diadema aff. antillarum) that can otherwise alter benthic communities in this region. [1]
The ocean triggerfish is a common food species in several areas, including the Caribbean and the island of Madeira. It is not commonly targeted by fisheries in the Western Atlantic. [1] The abundance of this species varies from year to year in the Canary Islands, with some fisheries reporting more than 300 kg caught in a single day. [5]
Female ocean triggers are oviparous; males typically form a harem with up to six females, then use their fins to fan shallow nests into sandy areas. The females lay their eggs in these nests, and the males visit each nest to fertilize the eggs. The females remain close to the nest to guard the eggs and young fry, and the males remain within a wider proximity to ward off predatory animals. The species is not commonly studied; consequently, their behavioral and lifestyle patterns are poorly documented. [7]
The conservation status of Canthidermis sufflamen was last assessed by IUCN in June 2011. The global population is considered stable, and the species was given an LC ("least concern") designation. [1]
Triggerfish are about 40 species of often brightly colored fish of 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.
The clown triggerfish, also known as the bigspotted triggerfish, is a demersal marine fish belonging to the family Balistidae, or commonly called triggerfish.
The Redtoothed triggerfish is a triggerfish of the tropical Indo-Pacific area, and the sole member of its genus. Some other common names include blue triggerfish, redfang triggerfish, redtoothed filefish, and Niger triggerfish.
The sergeant major or píntano is a species of damselfish. It grows to a maximum length of about 22.9 centimetres (9.0 in).
Scombrops oculatus, the Atlantic scombrops, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a gnomefish from the family Scombropidae. It is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
Holacanthus bermudensis, also known as the blue angelfish or Bermuda blue angelfish, is a species of ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean.
The grey triggerfish, or gray triggerfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the triggerfish family. 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.
The snowy grouper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
The cubera snapper, also known as the Cuban snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean. It is a commercially important species and is a sought-after game fish, though it has been reported to cause ciguatera poisoning.
The vermilion snapper, the clubhead snapper, night snapper, Brian’s red fish or beeliner is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean.
Sufflamen bursa the Lei Triggerfish is also known as the 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.
The redspotted hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found at depths from 2 to 46 m on tropical reefs in the Western Atlantic. The Redspotted Hawkfish is also found in the aquarium trade.
Bellator militaris, the horned sea robin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Triglidae, the sea robins. This fish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
The ornate wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the rocky coasts of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries, is also popular as a game fish, and can be found in the aquarium trade.
The spotted dragonet is a species of dragonet native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea where it occurs at depths of from 45 to 650 metres. This species is important to local peoples engaged in subsistence fishing.
Bellator egretta, the streamer searobin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Triglidae, the sea robins. This fish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Gobioclinus gobio is a strictly marine ray finned fish, also called Gobioclinus gobio. Its common name is the palehead blenny, and is sometimes referred to as the goggle-eye blenny. It can be identified by its greenish top, red belly, and multicolored banding. L. gobio is a benthic organism with a wide range, taking up residence in a number of coastal environments from Florida to Brazil. This means the fish can live in equatorial, subtropical, and tropical climatic zones. It is native to coastal areas of the Caribbean. Its diet consists mainly of different molluscs and echinoderms.
The blue blanquillo, Malacanthus latovittatus, also known as the banded blanquillo, striped blanquillo, false whiting, sand tilefish or eye of the sea, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a tilefish belonging to the family Malacanthidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific.
Canthidermis maculata, also known as rough triggerfish or spotted oceanic triggerfish, is a species of triggerfish native to the tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. Unlike most triggerfish, they are mostly pelagic.
The spinycheek scorpionfish, also known as Hemingway's scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.