Clown Triggerfish (species: Balistoides conspicillum) in Lady Elliot Island (Gaia Guide)
Lady Elliot Island > Marine Vertebrates > Actinopterygii > Balistidae > Balistoides conspicillum (gallery)
Balistoides conspicillum
Clown Triggerfish


©H. Zell: Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)

©Derek Ramsey: Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)

©Dennis Polack: Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Tetraodontiformes
Family Balistidae
Genus Balistoides
Species Balistoides conspicillum

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Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

Distinguishing features still need to be specified.

Size

  • Up to 50 cm (Total Length)

Depth range

  • From 1 m to 75 m

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution: Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)

Distribution and habitat preferences

Lives in clear coastal to outer reef habitats. Occurs in clear seaward reefs adjacent to steep drop-offs. A solitary species. Uncommon to rare throughout most of its range. Adults usually seen along deep drop-offs, swimming about openly and may retreat to caves when approached. Juveniles secretive in small caves with rich invertebrate growth (FishBase).

Local abundance

  • Outer reefs near Lizard Island: Frequently seen on outer reef slopes

Web resources

References

  • Allen, G., R. Steene, P. Humann and N. Deloach (2003). Reef fish identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA.
  • Curtis, L. (2010). Haemogregarine blood parasites in triggerfish and surgeonfish: distribution, transmission & implications for their host fish, PhD thesis, University of Queensland. LIRS catalog number 1620.
  • Meyer, D.L. (1985). Evolutionary implications of predation on recent comatulid crinoids from the Great Barrier Reef, Paleobiology, 11(2): 154-164. LIRS catalog number 167.