White-banded triggerfish
Rhinecanthus aculeatus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- White-banded triggerfish
- Scientific
- Rhinecanthus aculeatus
- Dhivehi
- ގަބުޅި ރޮނޑުGabulhi rondu
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 30 cm (total length); commonly 15 cm (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 28 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 50 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2022
Description
A boldly patterned triggerfish, pale brown above and white below, with diagonal black, blue and yellow bands, blue lines across the snout and rows of black spines on the tail base. It lives on shallow sandy lagoon reefs and reef flats and eats almost anything, from algae to worms, molluscs and small fish. It is territorial, sleeps on its side at night, and makes a whirring sound when startled.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name gabulhi rondu (MRS 1997). Very common on Maldivian house reefs and in lagoons.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Rhinecanthus-aculeatus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=5839&GenusName=Rhinecanthus&SpeciesNa
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ގަބުޅި_ރޮނޑު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Picasso.triggerfish.arp.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Gabulhi rondu' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) agrees: 'Gabulhi rondu'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ގަބުޅި ރޮނޑު' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Furondu' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.