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Black triggerfish (Sufflamen chrysopterum) — Balistidae

Black triggerfish

Sufflamen chrysopterum
Family: Balistidae
LC · Least Concern

The Black triggerfish (Sufflamen chrysopterum) is a saltwater fish of the family Balistidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–80.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The halfmoon triggerfish is a triggerfish (Balistidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a brown body with a paler, crescent-shaped band behind the head and a yellowish margin on the tail fin. Like all triggerfishes it can erect and lock the first dorsal fin spine to wedge itself into a crevice. It inhabits varied reefs, from silty lagoons to pristine outer reef walls, and is solitary and territorial. It feeds on a wide variety of benthic invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black triggerfish?

The Black triggerfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Black triggerfish live?

The Black triggerfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Black triggerfish get?

The Black triggerfish grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Black triggerfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Black triggerfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Black triggerfish edible?

The Black triggerfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Halvemaan-trekkervis sourced
English name
Black triggerfish verified
Scientific name
Sufflamen chrysopterum
Family
Balistidae
Other names
Eye-stripe triggerfish; Flagtail triggerfish; Goldenfinned triggerfish; Goldenlined triggerfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 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)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
80.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless 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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