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Bridle triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum) — Balistidae

Bridle triggerfish

Sufflamen fraenatum
Family: Balistidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bridle triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum) is a saltwater fish of the family Balistidae that grows up to 38 cm.

Length
38 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
8.0–186.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific; coastal rocky reefs and lagoons.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The bridled triggerfish is a triggerfish (Balistidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a robust, brownish body; adult males have a pale band from the mouth to the pectoral fin base, to which the name refers. It inhabits coastal rocky reefs, often on silty bottoms and in lagoons on open sand, and lives solitarily. As a bottom predator it feeds on benthic invertebrates such as sea urchins, snails, crabs and worms. It can lock itself into a crevice with its dorsal spine. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bridle triggerfish?

The Bridle triggerfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Male with a pale 'bridle' from the mouth to the pectoral fin; wedges itself into crevices with its dorsal fin spine.

Where does the Bridle triggerfish live?

The Bridle triggerfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific; coastal rocky reefs and lagoons.

How big does the Bridle triggerfish get?

The Bridle triggerfish grows to a maximum of about 38 cm. On average the species is around 26 cm.

Is the Bridle triggerfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Bridle triggerfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Bridle triggerfish edible?

The Bridle triggerfish is rarely eaten.

More photos

Bridle triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum) — Balistidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) donnymidas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bridle triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum) — Balistidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Jean-Lou Justine (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Bridle triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum) — Balistidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Randall, J.E. (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Bridle triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum) — Balistidae — 5
Andy (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
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All data

Identification

English name
Bridle triggerfish verified
Scientific name
Sufflamen fraenatum
Family
Balistidae
Other names
Bridle triggerfish; Bridled trigger; Bridled triggerfish; Masked triggerfish; Brown triggerfish; Golden triggerfish; Masked file fish; Starry triggerfish; Triggerfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
38.0 verified
Average length (cm)
26.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
8.0 verified
Max depth (m)
186.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; coastal rocky reefs and lagoons. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Sea urchins, snails, crabs and worms sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Male with a pale 'bridle' from the mouth to the pectoral fin; wedges itself into crevices with its dorsal fin spine. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Sufflamen

More from the family Balistidae

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