The titan triggerfish, giant triggerfish or moustache triggerfish (''Balistoides viridescens'') is a large
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
triggerfish
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-Pacifi ...
found in
lagoon
A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into ''coastal lagoons'' (or ''barrier lagoons'') a ...
s and at
reefs
A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock, coral or similar relatively stable material, lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water. Many reefs result from natural, abiotic processes— deposition of sand, wave erosion planing down rock out ...
to depths of in most of the
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth.
In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or Indo-Pacific Asia, it comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the ...
, though it is absent from
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
. With a length of up to ,
it is the largest species of triggerfish in its range (the
stone triggerfish
The stone triggerfish (''Pseudobalistes naufragium'') is the largest species of triggerfish.
Distribution
It is found at reefs and over sandy bottoms in the east Pacific, ranging from Baja California (Mexico) to Chile
Chile, officially ...
, ''Pseudobalistes naufragium'', from the east
Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
is larger).
Behavior
Titan triggerfish with orange-lined_triggerfish_and_moorish_idols_at_the_reef_of_Fihalhohi.html" ;"title="moorish_idol.html" ;"title="orange-lined triggerfish and moorish idol">orange-lined triggerfish and moorish idols at the reef of Fihalhohi">moorish_idol.html" ;"title="orange-lined triggerfish and moorish idol">orange-lined triggerfish and moorish idols at the reef of Fihalhohi, Maldives.
The titan triggerfish is Diurnality, diurnal and solitary. It feeds on sea urchins, molluscs, crustaceans, tube worms and coral.
[ It often feeds by turning over rocks, stirring up sand and biting off pieces of branching coral. This is why other smaller fish species are often seen around it, as they feed on the detritus and smaller organisms that are stirred up. Titan triggerfish have been observed being aggressive to other fish who enter their territory.
]
Interaction with humans
The titan triggerfish is usually wary of divers and snorkelers, but during the reproduction season the female guards its nest, which is placed in a flat sandy area, vigorously against any intruders. The territory around the nest is roughly cone-shaped and divers who accidentally enter it may be attacked. Divers should swim horizontally away from the nest rather than upwards which would only take them further into the territory.[Lieske, E., & R. Myers (1999). ''Coral Reef Fishes.'' 2nd edition. Princeton University Press. ][Debelius, H. (1993). ''Indian Ocean Tropical Fish Guide.'' Aquaprint Verlags GmbH. ]
The threat posture includes the triggerfish facing the intruder while holding its first dorsal spine erect.[ It may also roll onto its side, allowing it a better look at the intruder it perceives as threatening its nest. The titan triggerfish will not always bite, but can swim at snorkellers and divers escorting them out of their territory.
The flesh of the titan triggerfish is sometimes ciguatoxic.][
]
References
*
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1508315
Balistidae
Fish of Palau
Fish of the Indian Ocean
Fish described in 1801
