Clown Triggerfish, Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Scientific name: Balistoides conspicillum
Click to enlarge image
A Clown Triggerfish at a depth of 29 m, "Captains Table", Wreck Bay, far northern Great Barrier Reef.
Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Balistoides
- Species
- conspicillum
- Family
- Balistidae
- Order
- Tetraodontiformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 50 cm in length.
It occurs on coral reefs of the Indo-West Pacific and can be recognised by its colouration.
Identification
The Clown Triggerfish can be recognised by its colouration. It is black with yellow lips. The lower half of the head and body have large white spots.
A Clown Triggerfish at a depth of 20 m, Shark Reef, Coral Sea, November 1998.
Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl
Distribution
It occurs on coral reefs of the Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it is known from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef to northern 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.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- 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.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
