Bridled Triggerfish, Sufflamen fraenatum (Latreille, 1804)

Scientific name: Sufflamen fraenatum
Alternative name/s:
Brown Triggerfish, Golden Triggerfish, Masked Triggerfish
Bridled Triggerfish Click to enlarge image
A male Bridled Triggerfish at a depth of 2 m, 'Shark Bay' (aquarium), Sea World, Queensland, May 2005. Image: Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Sufflamen
    Species
    fraenatum
    Family
    Balistidae
    Order
    Tetraodontiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 38 cm in length.

Introduction

The Bridled Triggerfish is found mainly in tropical marine waters, and can be identified by the yellow bar on the lower lip.

Identification

The Bridled Triggerfish is brown with a yellow bar on the lower lip. Males have a yellow diagonal stripe from the mouth to the pectoral fin base.

Habitat

It occurs in tropical marine (and some temperate) waters of the Indo-Pacific.

Distribution

In Australia it is found from central to north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.