Triggerfish

By Anonymous -

TRIGGERFISH

Blog by: Brandi Broadus, Zach Peterson, and Kasey Throgmorton

HISTORY

Triggerfish reside in Family Balistidae. There are 12 different Genus options within Balistidae: Abalistes, Balistapus, Balistes, Balistoides, Canthidermis, Melichthys, Odonus, Pseudobalistes, Rhinecanthus, Sufflamen, Xanthichthys, and Xenobalistes. There are 42 different species of Triggerfish and some date all the way back to the year 1758 (Fishbase). The smallest known full-grown Triggerfish was measured at 13.1 inches long, Balistes willughbeii, which does not own a common name (no one really knows why). It was found in the East Central Pacific Ocean in the year 1839! On the contrary, the largest known full-grown was measured at 100 inches long! This fish is known as Pseudobalistes naufragium, otherwise known as the Stone Triggerfish. The precious organism was stumbled upon in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in the year 1895. In all, seeing how many different species of Triggerfish there are within the ocean today reminds us that the strongest organisms will always adapt to survive and prosper.
With all that being said, out of the 42 different species possible, we have the potential to see 6 in Cozumel! They are the following:


  
Queen Trigger (Balistes vetula) 10-50ft deep

Gray Trigger (Balistes capriscus) 15-50ft deep

    Ocean Trigger (Canthidermis sufflamen) 35-100ft deep

      Rough Trigger (Canthidermis maculata) 0-200ft deep


 

    Sargassum Trigger (Xanthichthys ringens) 35-250ft deep

     Black Durgon Trigger (Melichthys niger) 20-100ft deep

ECOLOGY
Triggerfish are found in oceans all around the world, but tend to be found more near tropical and subtropical waters, for the enjoy the warmer temperature. They are found mainly in shallow waters and inhabit the bottom of coral reefs. From Mexico to Chile, Triggerfish are known for their aggressive and territorial behavior. Survival of the fittest is a very prominent rule amongst the Triggerfish, for they will even battle each other among their own schools. During reproduction, females will many times guard the eggs until hatched, routinely blowing on the eggs to supply them with more oxygen. Male Triggerfish, although, are known to use the eggs as a source of food if needed. 
Some species of Triggerfish, being very visually attractive and popular, have slowly began to decrease due to human captivation for aquariums around the globe. Scientists have begin to raise some of the soon to be endangered species in captivation, hoping to increase the population.


DIET
Triggerfish are carnivores that spend their days eating a wide variety of echinoderms and crustaceans like crabs, shrimps, sea urchins, worms, and other invertebrates. Triggers don’t typically eat coral but you can find them picking out smaller fish or clams that are attached to the corals which we mistake as them eating corals. “When looking for food in the sand, some Triggers will tip up on their nose and "blow" the sand to uncover a potential meal (Triggerfish).” When they eat sea urchins they will typically pick off all the spines, turn over the urchin to expose the more vulnerable area, and with the front two teeth and strong jaws break it open. They don’t typically attack other fish but will feed on the flesh of dead fish.
In aquariums Triggers can make a tank become very high maintenance due to their messy eating habits. “Triggerfishes can be fed frozen vitamin-enriched preparations suitable for carnivores, as well as herbivore rations with marine algae for a balanced diet. Fresh meaty foods such as chopped shrimp, squid, clams, and fish can be offered, and soaked in a liquid vitamin such as Selcon to supplement their dietary requirements (Triggerfish).”



FUTURE
There are not any specific organism-like problems that Triggers face, as they are most definitely one of the most prominent and adapted fishes in the ocean. However, seeing as how they are found along reefs, it would be absolutely true to say that if reefs continue to diminish, these fishes will begin to face trials and tribulations with proper diet, predation, reproduction, and overall happiness. As previously mentioned, these fishes are very popular in aquaria around the world because they are gorgeous, interactive, and very interesting to talk about. They provide a very great message of conservation because they are a sign of a healthy reef and therefore a healthy ocean. Overall, Triggerfishes have continuously proven time and time again that if organisms can adapt throughout evolution, they will survive and thrive and provide the ocean with precious faces and unbelievably interesting personalities.

Thanks for stopping by our blog!

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Sources:

  • “Fish Identification: Find Species." Fish Base. Fish Base, 13 Mar. 2014. Web. 9 Feb. 2016. <http://www.fishbase.org/identification/SpeciesList.php?famcode=445&areacode=>
  • Humann, Paul, and Ned DeLoach. Reef Fish Identification. 4th ed. New World Publication, 2014. Print.
  • Triggerfish. (2015). Retrieved from BioExpedition: http://www.bioexpedition.com/triggerfish/
  • Triggerfish. (2016). Retrieved from National Geographic : http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/triggerfish/
  • "Triggerfish." Triggerfish. Web. 10 Feb. 2016. <http://www.aquariumcreationsonline.net/Triggerfish_saltwaterfish.html>.

Pictures (In order):


  • http://zasoby.ekologia.pl/animal/a/445/Balistes-vetula_max.jpg
  • http://marmenormarmayor.es/Biodiversidad_en_Mar_Menor_y_Mar_Mayor/Juan_Antonio_G/Paginss/Peces_files/Media/Balistes_Bapriscus/thumb.jpg
  • https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7553/15986521762_4164f5ffeb_b.jpg
  • http://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/resources/img/images/species/2398_8582.jpg
  • http://www.deepseaimages.com/dsilibrary/data/662/22002_1128_163209aa_1_1.jpg
  • http://d1iraxgbwuhpbw.cloudfront.net/images/species/menig_u9.jpg

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