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TITAN TRIGGERFISH FACTS |
Description
The Titan Triggerfish has a prominent scale pattern on the head and body. The scales have dark centres and paler edges. There is a dark deep groove in front of the eyes. It has around five rows of spines on each side of the tail stem. There is a black region with yellow spots from the eyes to the base of the pectoral fins. The dorsal and anal fins are yellowish with black edges.
Size
length to 75cm. The Titan Triggerfish is the largest species of triggerfish.
Habitat
reef lagoons, seaward reefs, sheltered inner reef slopes. Juveniles are often found in shallow protected areas. Adults occur singly or in pairs on the slopes of deep lagoons or seaward reefs at depths of up to 50m.
Food
sea urchins, coral, crabs, other crustaceans, molluscs, tube worms.
Breeding
Oviparous. Can be aggressive when caring for eggs, and may attack divers who approach too close.
Range
The Titan Triggerfish is found in tropical waters of the Indo-West and Central Pacific. In Australia it is found from south-western to north-western Western Australia and on the east coast along the length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland down to the central coast of New South Wales.
Classification
| Class: | Actinopterygii | | Order: | Tetraodontiformes | | Family: | Balistidae | | Genus: | Balistoides | | Species: | viridescens | | Common Name: | Titan Triggerfish |
Relatives in same Genus
Clown Triggerfish (B. conspicillum)
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