Yellow-spotted triggerfish – Pseudobalistes fuscus

Yellow-spotted triggerfish, Yellow-spotted Triggerfish, Blue-lined Trigger, Blue-lined Triggerfish, Rippled Triggerfish, Yellow-spot Triggerfish, Yellow-spotted Triggerfish, Yellow-spotted Trigger-fish, Pseudobalistes fuscus
Size: 55 cm
Depth: 30 - 50 m

American Samoa, Andaman and Nicobar, Australia, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Egypt, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Madagascar, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mozambique, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Reunion Island, Samoa, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vietnam

Arabian Sea, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Gulf of Aqaba, Indian Ocean, Lingayan Gulf, Pacific Ocean, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, South China Sea, Yellow Sea

The Yellow-spotted Triggerfish, Blue-lined Trigger, Blue-lined Triggerfish, Rippled Triggerfish, Yellow-spot Triggerfish, Yellow-spotted Triggerfish, Yellow-spotted Trigger-fish, scientifically known as Pseudobalistes fuscus, is a fascinating marine fish species belonging to the family Balistidae. This species is distinguished by its vibrant coloration and intriguing morphology.

Description & Characteristics

The Pseudobalistes fuscus is a relatively large fish, reaching a maximum size of 55.0 cm. Its body is characterized by a distinctive pattern of yellow spots, which are more pronounced on the dorsal and anal fins. These spots are often surrounded by a blue halo, giving the fish a striking appearance. The species also exhibits distinctive blue lines running along its body, contributing to its common names, the Blue-lined Trigger and the Blue-lined Triggerfish. Its body shape is laterally compressed, with a robust and somewhat elongated form. The mouth is small and located at the front of the head. The Pseudobalistes fuscus possesses strong, sharp teeth, adapted for crushing its prey.

Habitat and Occurrence

The Pseudobalistes fuscus is a common inhabitant of the subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, and deep zones of the oceans. It is frequently observed from the lower limit of the intertidal zone to the shelf edge at approximately 200 m water depth. These depths align with the neritic marine zone, where the Yellow-spotted Triggerfish thrives.

Taxonomy

The Pseudobalistes fuscus belongs to the Class: Teleostei, Order: Tetraodontiformes, and Family: Balistidae. This classification places it within a diverse group of fish characterized by their unique body shapes, strong teeth, and often vibrant colors.

Feeding

The Pseudobalistes fuscus is an opportunistic carnivore, feeding on a variety of marine invertebrates. Its diet includes brine shrimps, clams, crabs, flakes, frozen food (larger varieties), mysids, shrimps, sea urchins, and snails. Its strong teeth allow it to effectively crush and consume these prey items. The species is known to actively forage for food within its preferred habitat.

Associated Species

Image References

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