Triggerfish

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Triggerfish
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent
Picasso.triggerfish.arp.jpg
Lagoon triggerfish
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Suborder: Balistoidei
Family: Balistidae
A. Risso, 1810
Genera [1]

see text

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 (Canthidermis maculata), are pelagic. While several species from this family are popular in the marine aquarium trade, they are often notoriously ill-tempered. [2] [3]

Contents

Taxonomy

The triggerfish family, Balistidae. was first proposed in 1810 by the French polymath Constantine Samuel Rafinesque. [4] The closest relantives to the triggerfishes are the filefishses belonging to the family Monacanthidae and these two families are sometimes classified together in the suborder Balistoidei, for example in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World . [5] Other authorities. however, also include the families Aracanidae and Ostraciidae within the suborder Balistoidei. [6]

Etymology

Triggerfish have both a common name and a scientific name that 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 . In the scientific name of the type genus Balistes this is taken directly from the Italian pesca ballista, the "crossbow fish". Ballista originally being a machine for throwing arrows. [7]

Anatomy and appearance

The largest member of the family, the stone triggerfish (Pseudobalistes naufragium) reaches 1 m (3.3 ft), [8] but most species have a maximum length between 20 and 50 cm (8–20 in). [2]

Triggerfish have an oval-shaped, highly compressed body. The head is large, terminating in a small but strong-jawed mouth with teeth adapted for crushing shells. The eyes are small, set far back from the mouth, at the top of the head. The anterior dorsal fin is reduced to a set of three spines. The first spine is stout and by far the longest. All three are normally retracted into a groove. Characteristic of the order Tetraodontiformes, the anal and posterior dorsal fins are capable of undulating from side to side to provide slow movement and comprise their primary mode of propulsion. The sickle-shaped caudal fin is used only to escape predators.

The two pelvic fins are overlaid by skin for most of their length and fused to form a single spine, terminated by very short rays, their only external evidence. Gill plates (opercula), although present, are also not visible, overlaid by the tough skin, covered with rough, rhomboid scales that form a stout armor on their bodies. The only gill opening is a vertical slit, directly above the pectoral fins. This peculiar covering of the gill plates is shared with other members of the Tetradontae. Each jaw contains a row of four teeth on either side, while the upper jaw contains an additional set of six plate-like pharyngeal teeth.

As a protection against predators, triggerfish can erect the first two dorsal spines: The first (anterior) spine is locked in place by erection of the short second spine, and can be unlocked only by depressing the second, "trigger" spine, hence the family name "triggerfish".

With the exception of a few species from the genus Xanthichthys , the sexes of all species in this family are similar in appearance.

Genera and species

ImageGenusLiving species
Abalistes stellatus2.jpg Abalistes D. S. Jordan & Seale, 1906
Balistapus undulatus.jpg Balistapus Tilesius, 1820
778 Balistes capriscus 15.09.2012.jpg Balistes Linnaeus, 1758
Balistoides conspicillum 01.jpg Balistoides Fraser-Brunner, 1935
Canthidermis sufflamen (ocean triggerfish) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 1 (15965263309).jpg Canthidermis Swainson, 1839
Pinktail Triggerfish, dark phase - Melichthys vidua.jpg Melichthys Swainson, 1839
Blue Tooth Triggerfish, Bunaken Island.jpg Odonus Gistel, 1848
Yellow-margin triggerfish at Palmyra Atoll NWR (5123999534).jpg Pseudobalistes Bleeker, 1865
Picasso.triggerfish.arp.jpg Rhinecanthus Swainson, 1839
Scythe triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa) (47058283462).jpg Sufflamen D. S. Jordan, 1916
Gilded Triggerfish, male - Xanthichthys auromarginatus.jpg Xanthichthys Kaup, 1856
Xenobalistes Matsuura, 1981

Behavior

The anatomy of the triggerfish reflects its typical diet of slow-moving, bottom dwelling crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins and other echinoderms, generally creatures with protective shells and spines. Many will also take small fishes and some, notably the members of the genus Melichthys , feed on algae. [2] A few, for example the redtoothed triggerfish (Odonus niger), mainly feed on plankton. [2] They are known to exhibit a high level of intelligence for a fish, and have the ability to learn from previous experiences. [3] [9]

Some triggerfish species can be quite aggressive when guarding their eggs. Both the Picasso (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) and titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) viciously defend their nests against intruders, including scuba divers and snorkelers. Their territory extends in a cone from the nest toward the surface, so swimming upwards can put a diver further into the fishes' territory; a horizontal swim away from the nest site is best when confronted by an angry triggerfish. Unlike the relatively small Picasso triggerfish, the titan triggerfish poses a serious threat to inattentive divers due to its large size and powerful teeth. [10]

Male territoriality

Triggerfish males migrate to their traditional spawning sites prior to mating and establish territories. Some male species (i.e. Balistes carolinensis and Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus ) build hollow nests within their territories. [11] Triggerfish males are fierce in guarding their territories as having a territory is essential for reproduction. A male's territory is used for spawning and parental care. Most male territories are located over a sandy sea bottom or on a rocky reef. A single territory usually includes more than one female, and the male mates with all of the females residing in or visiting his territory (polygyny). In Hachijojima, Izu Islands, Japan, one male crosshatch triggerfish ( Xanthichthys mento ) has up to three females in his territory at the same time, and mates with them in pairs. Each male red-toothed triggerfish ( Odonus niger ) mates with more than 10 females in his territory on the same day. [12] Yellow margin triggerfish ( Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus ) also exhibit polygyny.

Spawning and biparental care

Triggerfish spawning is timed in relation to lunar cycles, tides, and time of changeover of tides. In relation to lunar cycles, eggs are observed 2–6 days before the full moon and 3–5 days before the new moon. In relation to tides, spawning happens 1–5 days before the spring tide. In relation to timing of tides, eggs are observed on days when high tides take place around sunset. [13]

The titan triggerfish can move relatively large rocks when feeding and is often followed by smaller fish, in this case orange-lined triggerfish and moorish idol, that feed on leftovers. Titan Triggerfish.jpg
The titan triggerfish can move relatively large rocks when feeding and is often followed by smaller fish, in this case orange-lined triggerfish and moorish idol, that feed on leftovers.

Male and female triggerfish perform certain prespawning behaviors: blowing and touching. [12] A male and female blow water on the sandy bottom (usually in the same spot at the same time) and set up their egg site. They touch their abdomens on the bottom as if they are spawning. During actual spawning, eggs are laid on the sandy sea bottom (triggerfish are demersal spawners despite their large size). Eggs are scattered and attached to sand particles. Triggerfish eggs are usually very small (diameter of 0.5–0.6 mm) [13] [14] and are easily spread by waves. After spawning, both the male and female participate in caring for the fertilized eggs (biparental egg care). A female triggerfish stays near the spawning ground, around 5 m off the bottom, and guards the eggs within her territory against intruders. Some common intruders include Parupeneus multifasciatus, Zanclus cornutus, Prionurus scalprum , and conspecifics. Besides guarding, females roll, fan, and blow water on eggs to provide oxygen to the embryos, thereby inducing hatching. [15] This behavior of female triggerfish is called "tending", and males rarely perform this behavior. A male triggerfish stays farther above the eggs and guards all the females and eggs in his territory. Males exhibit aggressive behaviors against conspecific males near the boundaries of their territories.

Mating systems

In crosshatch triggerfish ( Xanthichthys mento ) and yellow margin triggerfish ( Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus ), eggs are spawned in the morning and they hatch after the sunset on the same day. After hatching of embryos, the female crosshatch triggerfish leaves the male's territory. This mating system is an example of male-territory-visiting polygamy. Triggerfishes exhibit other types of mating systems, as well, such as a nonterritorial-female (NTF) polygyny and territorial-female (TF) polygyny. In NTF polygyny, nonterritorial females stay in the male's territory and reproduce. In TF polygyny, a female owns territory within a male's territory and will spawn in her territory. [12]

Life history

Triggerfish lay their demersal eggs in a small hole dug in the sea bottom. Off Florida, juveniles of some species of triggerfishes are found in floating Sargassum , where they feed on the small shrimp, crabs, and mollusks found there. [16]

Edibility

Grey triggerfish caught off the coast of Madeira Madeira Druckerfisch Kuste Funchal 5-07.JPG
Grey triggerfish caught off the coast of Madeira

Some species of triggerfish, such as the titan triggerfish, may be ciguatoxic and should be avoided. [2] Others, however, such as the grey triggerfish (Balistes capriscus), are edible. [17]


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gobiidae</span> Family of fishes

Gobiidae or gobies is a family of bony fish in the order Gobiiformes, one of the largest fish families comprising more than 2,000 species in more than 200 genera. Most of gobiid fish are relatively small, typically less than 10 cm (3.9 in) in length, and the family includes some of the smallest vertebrates in the world, such as Trimmatom nanus and Pandaka pygmaea, Trimmatom nanus are under 1 cm long when fully grown, then Pandaka pygmaea standard length are 9 mm (0.35 in), maximum known standard length are 11 mm (0.43 in). Some large gobies can reach over 30 cm (0.98 ft) in length, but that is exceptional. Generally, they are benthic or bottom-dwellers. Although few are important as food fish for humans, they are of great significance as prey species for other commercially important fish such as cod, haddock, sea bass and flatfish. Several gobiids are also of interest as aquarium fish, such as the dartfish of the genus Ptereleotris. Phylogenetic relationships of gobiids have been studied using molecular data.

<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 belonging to the family Balistidae, or commonly called triggerfish.

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

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.

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

The yellowmargin triggerfish, pineapple trigger, yellowface triggerfish or yellow-face triggerfish is a marine fish in the family Balistidae. It is found in coastal tropical waters and reefs of the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa and east from southern Japan south to Indonesia, the Philippines and Samoa, at water depths from 2–50 m (6.6–164.0 ft).

<i>Pseudobalistes fuscus</i> Species of fish

Pseudobalistes fuscus is a fish belonging to the family Balistidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagoon triggerfish</span> A triggerfish found on reefs in the Indo-Pacific region.

The lagoon triggerfish, also known as the blackbar triggerfish, the Picasso triggerfish, or the Picassofish, is a triggerfish, up to 30 cm in length, found on reefs in the Indo-Pacific region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filefish</span> Family of fishes

The filefish (Monacanthidae) are a diverse family of tropical to subtropical tetraodontiform marine fish, which are also known as foolfish, leatherjackets or shingles. They live in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Filefish are closely related to triggerfish, pufferfish and trunkfish.

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

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.

<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">Frogfish</span> Family of fishes

Frogfishes are any member of the anglerfish family Antennariidae, of the order Lophiiformes. Antennariids are known as anglerfish in Australia, where the term "frogfish" refers to members of the unrelated family Batrachoididae. Frogfishes are found in almost all tropical and subtropical oceans and seas around the world, the primary exception being the Mediterranean Sea.

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

The orange-lined triggerfish is a demersal triggerfish. Although Balistapus is a monotypic genus, it is closely related to the genus Balistoides.

<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. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leopard coral grouper</span> Species of fish

The leopard coral grouper, also known as the common coral trout, leopard coral trout, blue-dotted coral grouper or spotted coral 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 Pacific Ocean.

<i>Paracentropyge multifasciata</i> Species of fish

Paracentropyge multifasciata, the barred angelfish, banded pygmy-angelfish, many-banded angelfish, multi-banded angelfish or multibarred angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish, belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific.

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

The blackbelly triggerfish is a ray-finned fish in the family Balistidae found in the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It is sometimes known as the blackpatch triggerfish.

<i>Xanthichthys mento</i> Species of fish

Xanthichthys mento, the redtail triggerfish, blue-throat triggerfish, or crosshatch triggerfish, is a species of triggerfish from the Pacific. It inhabits outer-reef areas at depths of 6–131 m (20–430 ft), and feeds on zooplankton. Xanthichthys mento grows to a size of 29 cm (11 in) in length and occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<i>Xanthichthys ringens</i> Species of fish

Xanthichthys ringens, the Sargassum triggerfish, is a species of triggerfish from the Western Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina (USA) to Brazil.

<i>Xanthichthys</i> Genus of fishes

Xanthichthys is a genus of triggerfishes native to reef environments in the western Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and 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.

References

  1. ↑ Matsuura, Keiichi (2014). "Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014" (PDF). Ichthyological Research. 62 (1): 72–113. Bibcode:2015IchtR..62...72M. doi: 10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5 . S2CID   15223867.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Lieske, Ewald; Myers, Robert (1999). Coral Reef Fishes: Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean including the Red Sea . Princeton University Press. ISBN   0-691-00481-1.
  3. 1 2 3 McDavid, Jim (July 2007). "Aquarium Fish: Triggerfish". Advanced Aquarist. Vol. VI, no. VII. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017.
  4. ↑ Richard van der Laan; William N. Eschmeyer & Ronald Fricke (2014). "Family-group names of recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (2): 1–230. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 . PMID   25543675.
  5. ↑ Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 518–526. doi:10.1002/9781119174844. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6. LCCN   2015037522. OCLC   951899884. OL   25909650M.
  6. ↑ "Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes Classification". Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  7. ↑ Christopher Scharpf (21 August 2024). "Order TETRAODONTIFORMES: Families MOLIDAE, BALISTIDAE, MONACANTHIDAE, ARACANIDAE and OSTRACIIDAE". Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  8. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Pseudobalistes naufragium". FishBase . February 2015 version.
  9. ↑ Debelius, Helmut (1993). Indian Ocean Tropical Fish Guide. Aquaprint Verlags GmbH. ISBN   3-927991-01-5.
  10. ↑ Randall, J.E.; Millington, J.T. (1990). "Triggerfish bite – a little-known Marine hazard". Journal of Wilderness Medicine. 1 (2): 79–85. doi:10.1580/0953-9859-1.2.79.
  11. ↑ Lobel, Philip S.; Johannes, Robert E. (September 1980). "Nesting, egg and larvae of triggerfish (Balistidae)". Environmental Biology of Fishes . 5 (3): 251–252. Bibcode:1980EnvBF...5..251L. doi:10.1007/bf00005359. S2CID   3213367.
  12. 1 2 3 Kawase, Hiroshi (March 2003). "Spawning behavior and biparental egg care of the crosshatch triggerfish, Xanthichthys mento (Balistidae)". Environmental Biology of Fishes . 66 (3): 211–219. Bibcode:2003EnvBF..66..211K. doi:10.1023/a:1023978722744. S2CID   35997227.
  13. 1 2 Gladstone, William (March 1994). "Lek-like spawning, parental care and mating periodicity of the triggerfish Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (Balistidae)". Environmental Biology of Fishes . 39 (3): 249–257. Bibcode:1994EnvBF..39..249G. doi:10.1007/bf00005127. S2CID   36747250.
  14. ↑ Kawase, Hiroshi (2003). "Maternal egg care in the bridled triggerfish, Sufflamen fraenatus (Balistidae) at Hachijojima island, Japan". Natural History Research. 7: 193–197.
  15. ↑ Reebs, Stéphan G. (2011–2015). "Are fishes good parents?" (PDF). Université de Moncton. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016 – via howfishbehave.ca.
  16. ↑ Matsuura, K.; Tyler, J.C. (1998). Paxton, John R.; Eschmeyer, William N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes: A Comprehensive Guide by International Experts. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 228–229. ISBN   0-12-547665-5.
  17. ↑ Evans, Jade (10 May 2017). "How To Cook Triggerfish In The Most Delicious Way". MarvelousChef.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
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