Clown triggerfish
Balistoides conspicillum
Valid name.
- English
- Clown triggerfish
- Scientific
- Balistoides conspicillum
- Dhivehi
- ބިސް ރޮނޑުBis rondu
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- About 45-50 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Clear outer reef slopes and drop-offs, about 1 to 75 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2022
Description
Unmistakable: dark blue-black with large white oval spots on the lower half, a yellow mesh pattern on the back and a bright orange-yellow mouth. Like other triggerfish it can lock its first dorsal spine upright to wedge itself into crevices. It feeds on sea urchins, crabs, molluscs and other hard-shelled invertebrates. Adults are territorial and solitary.
In the Maldives
Seen regularly on outer reef walls and channels in the Maldives, usually singly. The Dhivehi name means 'egg triggerfish', after the large white spots.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Balistoides-conspicillum.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=2300&GenusName=Balistoides&SpeciesNam
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ބިސް_ރޮނޑު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Balistoides_conspicillum_2607.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives, Marine Research Section, Malé (FAO/BOBP MAG/21); Thaana from Dhivehi Wikipedia (fish articles derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition). Also in FishBase common names (country: Maldives).