This fish belongs to the order Tetraodontiformes, which includes pufferfish. Tetraodontiformes are typically found in temperate seas around the world. Fish that belong to this order usually have small temperate mouths.[2]
The family, Balistidae, which is commonly called triggerfish. Currently there are about 37 Balistidae species. This family of fish are very different than other Tetraodontiformes. Unlike the other Tetraodontiformes, their body shape is compressed, with easy to spot scales. Triggerfish have not comprehensively been reviewed enough to have a complete description of them. [2]
Description
Because of its coloration, the clown triggerfish is highly prized as an aquarium fish.
Because of its coloration, the clown triggerfish is highly prized as an aquarium fish.
The clown triggerfish is a fish which grows up to 50 cm (19.7 inches) in the wild, however, in captivity it does not usually reach that length.[3] This is considered a large fish. Its body has a stocky appearance, oval shape and compressed laterally. The head is large and represents approximately one third of the body length. The mouth is small, terminal and has strong teeth.
The clown triggerfish is closely related to two other species: the black triggerfish (Melichthys) and the pineapple triggerfish (Pseudobalistes Flavimarginatus). Due to the large white spots on the ventral side, the clown triggerfish is harder to mistaken for other species.[2]
The first dorsal fin is composed of three spines, one of which is longer and stronger. It is erectile and hidden in a dorsal furrow. This set of dorsal spines composed a trigger system which is a characteristic from the familyBalistidae. The second dorsal fin is similar in shape and size to the anal fin which is symmetrically opposed to it. The pelvic fin is reduced to a ventral protrusion.
The background coloration is black. Half of inferior part of the body is marked with big white spots which are more or less round. The area around the first dorsal fin is crossed by yellowish sinuosities which draw like a network reminding the leopard's patterns. There is a yellowish ring around the mouth, which is surrounded by another fin white ring. A white stripe ride the snout just under the eyes level. The second dorsal fin and the anal fin are white and underlined with a yellow line at their base. The caudal peduncle has a yellowish blotch on its top part and has three horizontal sets of spiny scales. The caudal fin is yellowish in its center and has black margin. Juveniles have a black background coloration spangled with small white spots, the extremity of the snout and the base of the first dorsal fin is yellowish.
The coloration of this fish can play tricks on other fish. For example, the white spots on the ventral side of the fish can be confused, by other fish, with the light rays in the water.[4]
The clown triggerfish’s scales are round and weaker than that of other fish. These scales have two layers: the topmost layer being bone and the lower layer being collagenous.[5]
This fish has teeth that continuously grow. These teeth help them when feeding on crustaceans.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The clown triggerfish is widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean and in the western Pacific Ocean. These fish typically like being around similarly colored areas such as reefs and coral reefs that have steep drop offs nearby. These environments provide suitable habitats for them, including mating and hiding.[4]
A single record was reported in the Mediterranean Sea in Spanish waters in 2012, a likely aquarium release. It is most commonly found along external reef slopes with clear water until 75 m depth. Juveniles are usually staying below 20 m sheltered close to caves or overhangs.
The clown triggerfish has also been documented in the Israeli Red Sea. This was also most likely due to an aquarium release.[6]
Biology
The clown triggerfish have also been known to reproduce slowly even though they are found all around different reefs.[1] These fish create harems after reaching one year of age. Though they are able to live up to 20 years, but reach sexual maturity at about one year.[4]
The female lays her eggs while the male fertilizes them in sandy patches. From here, the parents will defend the nest, for about eight days, until the eggs hatch. Which is when the female starts to care for them. Typically, clown triggerfish spawn in deep water, which is where the young stay until they grow close to 20cm. [4] This is where the steep drop offs near the reefs comes in handy for the clown triggerfish.
The clown triggerfish can be found in many different oceans, however they can be seldom found in their natural habitats.[7] It is unclear if this species is a rare find or if it’s abundant and just not well documented.[4]
This fish has acrocentric chromosomes, which is pretty common amongst many fish species.[8]
Feeding
Balistoides conspicillum has a varied diet based on different benthic organisms like molluscs, echinoderms and crustaceans.[9] The clown triggerfish has powerful jaws that are typically used during aggressive actions with smaller fish. Due to their strength, this fish is capable of crushing sea urchins and other crustaceans.[4] They have also been seen attacking and consuming crinoids more so than the average reef fish.[10]
Behaviour
This triggerfish has a diurnal activity, is solitary and defends a territory. It can be hard to find this fish in its habitat. It can be very aggressive with other fish and congeners.The clown triggerfish can be sociable the younger it is, however as it gets older, the less sociable and more aggressive it becomes.[3] The first long dorsal spine when is erected, it is used to impress an opponent or to avoid a predator to pull it out of its refuge.
The clown triggerfish does not enter, or rarely enter other triggerfish’s territories. These fish have also not shown aggression towards other triggerfish, only other species of fish.[11]
When the clown triggerfish is in danger it hides in holes. It is capable of locking the spine on their dorsal fin in place, while also locking their smaller dorsal and ventral fin in place. This makes it harder for the fish to be pulled out of their hiding hole.
In aquariums
The clown triggerfish is a common fish found in aquariums and public zoos, since their coloration and pattern is very unique. These fish have been recorded as being difficult to handle, as they’re pretty aggressive, but not as difficult as other species can be. [12]
The juvenile clown triggerfish are sought out after more than adults since juveniles are less aggressive towards other fish.[1] The juvenile clown triggerfish are sought out after more than adults since juveniles are less aggressive towards other fish. Like many other triggerfish, it can require a large aquarium and be aggressive towards other fish. It should not be kept with small fish. Clown triggerfish can be housed with other large fish species such as moray eels and angelfish, but they thrive when kept alone.[3] It will also prey on invertebrates in the aquarium.[13][14] This fish can become tame enough to be hand-fed; however, one should beware of the fish's sharp teeth.[14] They have been known to take out chunks of flesh while being hand-fed. [3]
Decor in their tanks must be tough, as clown triggerfish will attack them.[3]
Due to the high demand of the clown triggerfish, people tend to capture them in the wild. This can lead to local populations being impacted.[1]
The clown triggerfish, or any triggerfish should not be one of the first fish added to an aquarium. They should be one of the last ones, if not the last fish added as they will most likely not see their tank mates as potential food sources. Any fish or crustaceans added after the triggerfish is added is seen as food and usually attacked quickly.[3]
Conservation Status
The clown trigger fish is of least concern, however, this fish has been introduced into different ecosystems in different parts of the world. One place in particular is the Israeli Red Sea, in which the clown triggerfish was introduced, most likely intentionally, by a private aquarium keeper. This sea has a fragile ecosystem that has been under a lot of stress. One of the bigger concerns is that the clown triggerfish that have been released into the wild may contain harmful bacteria. Aquarium fish that were from farms often contain harmful bacteria that can decimate aquariums if not treated quickly and properly. For wild fish, coming into contact with farmed fish can be devastating as wild fish would not have any barriers against the harmful bacteria.[6]
Since the clown triggerfish is a highly sought after aquarium fish, being taken straight from the reefs causes problems. Reefs contain coral which are highly sensitive animals. Divers will disturb and destroy the reefs upon capturing a clown triggerfish which can have devastating consequences on the reefs in those areas, especially towards other reef fish. The clown triggerfish relies on coral reefs for food and shelter, but with the decline in coral reefs, there may be a possibility of a decline in clown triggerfish population in the future.[1]
Due to the clown triggerfish most likely being introduced by an aquarium, there could be potentially harmful effects, though the effects have not fully been recorded. It is likely that the introduced fish have not survived, however certain reefs have enough plasticity to include the clown triggerfish.[7][15]
Related Research Articles
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.
Pseudobalistes fuscus is a fish belonging to the family Balistidae.
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.
The titan triggerfish, giant triggerfish or moustache triggerfish is a large species of triggerfish found in lagoons and at reefs to depths of 50 m (160 ft) in most of the Indo-Pacific, though it is absent from Hawaii. With a length of up to 75 centimetres (30 in), it is the largest species of triggerfish in its range.
Reef safe is a distinction used in the saltwater aquarium hobby to indicate that a fish or invertebrate is safe to add to a reef aquarium. There is no fish that is completely reef safe. Every fish that is commonly listed as reef safe are species that usually do not readily consume small fish or invertebrates. Fish listed as reef safe also do not bother fellow fish unless in some cases, for instance tangs, they do not get along with conspecifics and sometimes fish with similar color or body shape. Every fish has a personality, is different, and, in some cases, are opportunistic feeders. Tangs, which by most accounts are reef safe, may in adulthood eat some crustaceans shortly after they molt. Many larger predatory fish, for instance eels and pufferfish, will adapt very well to a reef tank and will be problem-free as long as they have sizable tank-mates and no crustaceans. Some aquarists have also had success in keeping smaller fish with predatory ones in reef tanks by adding the smaller fish at night, sometimes with newly rearranged rockwork.
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.
The tomato clownfish is a species of marine fish in the family Pomacentridae, the clownfishes and damselfishes. It is native to the waters of the Western Pacific, from the Japan to Indonesia. Other common names include blackback anemonefish, bridled anemonefish, fire clown, and red tomato clown.
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.
The yellow boxfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found in reefs throughout the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean as well as the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. Recorded occasionally since 2011 in the Levantine waters of the Mediterranean Sea which it likely entered via the Suez Canal, it is a species appreciated in the aquarium trade. They are known for their cuboid body shape, bright yellow and black spotted coloration, and the secretion of a toxic mucus when threatened.
The royal angelfish, or regal angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae, and the monotypic genus Pygoplites. It is found in tropical Indo-Pacific oceans. It can grow as long as 25 cm (9.8 in).
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.
Aluterus scriptus, commonly known as scrawled filefish, broomtail filefish or scribbled leatherjacket, is a marine fish belonging to the family Monacanthidae.
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.
The Queen Triggerfish 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.
Cantherhines dumerilii is a species of fish in the family Monacanthidae, the filefishes. Its common names include whitespotted filefish, barred filefish, orange-fin file, and yelloweye leatherjacket. It is distributed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans where it is found on coral reefs.
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.
Coral reef fish are fish which live amongst or in close relation to coral reefs. Coral reefs form complex ecosystems with tremendous biodiversity. Among the myriad inhabitants, the fish stand out as colourful and interesting to watch. Hundreds of species can exist in a small area of a healthy reef, many of them hidden or well camouflaged. Reef fish have developed many ingenious specialisations adapted to survival on the reefs.
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.
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.
Rhinecanthus lunula, commonly known as the halfmoon picassofish, is a species of balistid triggerfish first described by John E. Randall and Roger C. Steene in 1983. It belongs to the Indo-Pacific triggerfish genus Rhinecanthus.
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↑ Baumiller, Tomasz K.; Mooi, Rich; Messing, Charles G. (2008). "Urchins in the Meadow: Paleobiological and Evolutionary Implications of Cidaroid Predation on Crinoids". Paleobiology. 34 (1): 22–34. doi:10.1666/07031.1. JSTOR20445573. ProQuest229308061.
↑ Ziadi-Künzli, Fabienne; Tachihara, Katsunori (February 2016). "Female defence polygyny and plasticity in the mating system of the demersal triggerfish Rhinecanthus aculeatus (Pisces: Balistidae) from Okinawa Island". Marine Biology. 163 (2): 27. Bibcode:2016MarBi.163...27Z. doi:10.1007/s00227-015-2780-z.
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