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Fish Identification: Find Species


Family: Balistidae Triggerfishes



(See list of species below)


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42 species (see list below)
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Photo by Justine, J.-L.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 32.5 cm SL
Abalistes filamentosus Matsuura & Yoshino, 2004

Photo by Photo by Justine, J.-L.
 
Abalistes filamentosus
[]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 60 cm TL
Abalistes stellatus (Anonymous, 1798)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Abalistes stellatus
[Starry triggerfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Balistapus undulatus (Park, 1797)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Balistapus undulatus
[Orange-lined triggerfish]

Photo by Patzner, R.

Western and Eastern Atlan
Max. Length 66 cm TL
Balistes capriscus Gmelin, 1789

Photo by Photo by Patzner, R.
 
Balistes capriscus
[Grey triggerfish]

Photo by Kandula, S. & P. Padmavathi

Indian Ocean

Balistes ellioti Day, 1889

Photo by Photo by Kandula, S. & P. Padmavathi
 
Balistes ellioti
[]

Photo by Malaer, P.

Eastern Pacific from nort
Max. Length 76 cm TL
Balistes polylepis Steindachner, 1876

Photo by Photo by Malaer, P.
 
Balistes polylepis
[Finescale triggerfish]

Photo by Wirtz, P.

Eastern Atlantic from Mad
Max. Length 60 cm TL
Balistes punctatus Gmelin, 1789

Photo by Photo by Wirtz, P.
 
Balistes punctatus
[Bluespotted triggerfish]

Photo by Johnson, L.

Western and Eastern Atlan
Max. Length 60 cm TL
Balistes vetula Linnaeus, 1758

Photo by Photo by Johnson, L.
 
Balistes vetula
[Queen triggerfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 50 cm TL
Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Balistoides conspicillum
[Clown triggerfish]

Photo by Cook, D.C.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 75 cm TL
Balistoides viridescens (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Photo by Photo by Cook, D.C.
 
Balistoides viridescens
[Titan triggerfish]

Photo by Field, R.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 60 cm TL
Canthidermis macrolepis (Boulenger, 1888)

Photo by Photo by Field, R.
 
Canthidermis macrolepis
[Largescale triggerfish]

Photo by Patzner, R.

Circumglobal in warm and
Max. Length 50 cm TL
Canthidermis maculata (Bloch, 1786)

Photo by Photo by Patzner, R.
 
Canthidermis maculata
[Rough triggerfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 27.2 cm SL
 
Canthidermis rotundatus
[]

Photo by Wirtz, P.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 65 cm TL
Canthidermis sufflamen (Mitchill, 1815)

Photo by Photo by Wirtz, P.
 
Canthidermis sufflamen
[Ocean triggerfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 13.1 cm SL
 
Canthidermis willughbeii
[]

Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver

Indian Ocean
Max. Length 25 cm TL
Melichthys indicus Randall & Klausewitz, 1973

Photo by Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver
 
Melichthys indicus
[Indian triggerfish]

Photo by Luiz, Jr., O.

Circumglobal. Uncommon in
Max. Length 50 cm TL
Melichthys niger (Bloch, 1786)

Photo by Photo by Luiz, Jr., O.
 
Melichthys niger
[Black triggerfish]

Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/B. Alenda

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 40 cm TL
Melichthys vidua (Richardson, 1845)

Photo by Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/B. Alenda
 
Melichthys vidua
[Pinktail triggerfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 50 cm TL
Odonus niger (Rüppell, 1836)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Odonus niger
[Red-toothed triggerfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 60 cm TL
Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (Rüppell, 1829)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus
[Yellowmargin triggerfish]

Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 55 cm TL
Pseudobalistes fuscus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Photo by Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver
 
Pseudobalistes fuscus
[Yellow-spotted triggerfish]

Photo by IGFA

Eastern Pacific from Baja
Max. Length 100 cm TL
Pseudobalistes naufragium (Jordan & Starks, 1895)

Photo by Photo by IGFA
 
Pseudobalistes naufragium
[Stone triggerfish]

Photo by Peristiwady, T.

Northwest Pacific. Japan.
Max. Length 16.7 cm SL
Rhinecanthus abyssus Matsuura & Shiobara, 1989

Photo by Photo by Peristiwady, T.
 
Rhinecanthus abyssus
[]

Photo by Miyahara, H.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Rhinecanthus aculeatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Photo by Photo by Miyahara, H.
 
Rhinecanthus aculeatus
[White-banded triggerfish]

Photo by Field, R.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Rhinecanthus assasi (Fabricius, 1775)

Photo by Photo by Field, R.
 
Rhinecanthus assasi
[Picasso triggerfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 16.5 cm SL
Rhinecanthus cinereus (Bonnaterre, 1788)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Rhinecanthus cinereus
[]

Photo by Bajol, R.

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 28 cm TL
Rhinecanthus lunula Randall & Steene, 1983

Photo by Photo by Bajol, R.
 
Rhinecanthus lunula
[Halfmoon picassofish]

Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Rhinecanthus rectangulus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Photo by Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver
 
Rhinecanthus rectangulus
[Wedge-tail triggerfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 23 cm TL
Rhinecanthus verrucosus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Rhinecanthus verrucosus
[Blackbelly triggerfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 22 cm TL
Sufflamen albicaudatum (Rüppell, 1829)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Sufflamen albicaudatum
[Bluethroat triggerfish]

Photo by Patzner, R.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 25 cm TL
Sufflamen bursa (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Photo by Photo by Patzner, R.
 
Sufflamen bursa
[Boomerang triggerfish]

Photo by Patzner, R.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Sufflamen chrysopterum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Photo by Photo by Patzner, R.
 
Sufflamen chrysopterum
[Halfmoon triggerfish]

Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 38 cm TL
Sufflamen fraenatum (Latreille, 1804)

Photo by Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver
 
Sufflamen fraenatum
[Masked triggerfish]

Photo by Cox, C.D.

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 40 cm TL
Sufflamen verres (Gilbert & Starks, 1904)

Photo by Photo by Cox, C.D.
 
Sufflamen verres
[Orangeside triggerfish]

Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/B. Alenda

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Xanthichthys auromarginatus (Bennett, 1832)

Photo by Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/B. Alenda
 
Xanthichthys auromarginatus
[Gilded triggerfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 35 cm TL
Xanthichthys caeruleolineatus Randall, Matsuura & Zama, 1978

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Xanthichthys caeruleolineatus
[Outrigger triggerfish]

Photo by Pyle, R.L.

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 15.4 cm SL
Xanthichthys greenei Pyle & Earle, 2013

Photo by Photo by Pyle, R.L.
 
Xanthichthys greenei
[Greene's triggerfish]
No picture found
 
Xanthichthys lima
[]

Photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Xanthichthys lineopunctatus (Hollard, 1854)

Photo by Photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.
 
Xanthichthys lineopunctatus
[Striped triggerfish]

Photo by Cox, C.D.

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 30 cm NG
Xanthichthys mento (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)

Photo by Photo by Cox, C.D.
 
Xanthichthys mento
[Redtail triggerfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 25 cm TL
Xanthichthys ringens (Linnaeus, 1758)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Xanthichthys ringens
[Sargassum triggerfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 6.1 cm SL
 
Xenobalistes tumidipectoris
[]


Sort by: Species Length Year
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Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm) Year
Abalistes filamentosus Indo-West Pacific 32.5 SL 2004
Abalistes stellatus Starry triggerfish Indo-West Pacific 60 TL 1798
Balistapus undulatus Orange-lined triggerfish Indo-Pacific 30 TL 1797
Balistes capriscus Grey triggerfish Western and Eastern Atlan 66 TL 1789
Balistes ellioti Indian Ocean 1889
Balistes polylepis Finescale triggerfish Eastern Pacific from nort 76 TL 1876
Balistes punctatus Bluespotted triggerfish Eastern Atlantic from Mad 60 TL 1789
Balistes vetula Queen triggerfish Western and Eastern Atlan 60 TL 1758
Balistoides conspicillum Clown triggerfish Indo-Pacific 50 TL 1801
Balistoides viridescens Titan triggerfish Indo-Pacific 75 TL 1801
Canthidermis macrolepis Largescale triggerfish Indo-West Pacific 60 TL 1888
Canthidermis maculata Rough triggerfish Circumglobal in warm and 50 TL 1786
Canthidermis rotundatus Indo-West Pacific. 27.2 SL 1822
Canthidermis sufflamen Ocean triggerfish Western Atlantic 65 TL 1815
Canthidermis willughbeii Eastern Central Pacific. 13.1 SL 1839
Melichthys indicus Indian triggerfish Indian Ocean 25 TL 1973
Melichthys niger Black triggerfish Circumglobal. Uncommon in 50 TL 1786
Melichthys vidua Pinktail triggerfish Indo-Pacific 40 TL 1845
Odonus niger Red-toothed triggerfish Indo-Pacific 50 TL 1836
Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus Yellowmargin triggerfish Indo-Pacific 60 TL 1829
Pseudobalistes fuscus Yellow-spotted triggerfish Indo-Pacific 55 TL 1801
Pseudobalistes naufragium Stone triggerfish Eastern Pacific from Baja 100 TL 1895
Rhinecanthus abyssus Northwest Pacific. Japan. 16.7 SL 1989
Rhinecanthus aculeatus White-banded triggerfish Indo-Pacific 30 TL 1758
Rhinecanthus assasi Picasso triggerfish Western Indian Ocean 30 TL 1775
Rhinecanthus cinereus Western Indian Ocean 16.5 SL 1788
Rhinecanthus lunula Halfmoon picassofish Pacific Ocean 28 TL 1983
Rhinecanthus rectangulus Wedge-tail triggerfish Indo-Pacific 30 TL 1801
Rhinecanthus verrucosus Blackbelly triggerfish Indo-West Pacific 23 TL 1758
Sufflamen albicaudatum Bluethroat triggerfish Western Indian Ocean 22 TL 1829
Sufflamen bursa Boomerang triggerfish Indo-Pacific 25 TL 1801
Sufflamen chrysopterum Halfmoon triggerfish Indo-Pacific 30 TL 1801
Sufflamen fraenatum Masked triggerfish Indo-Pacific 38 TL 1804
Sufflamen verres Orangeside triggerfish Eastern Pacific 40 TL 1904
Xanthichthys auromarginatus Gilded triggerfish Indo-Pacific 30 TL 1832
Xanthichthys caeruleolineatus Outrigger triggerfish Indo-West Pacific 35 TL 1978
Xanthichthys greenei Greene's triggerfish Pacific Ocean 15.4 SL 2013
Xanthichthys lima Western Indian Ocean 1832
Xanthichthys lineopunctatus Striped triggerfish Indo-West Pacific 30 TL 1854
Xanthichthys mento Redtail triggerfish Pacific Ocean 30 NG 1882
Xanthichthys ringens Sargassum triggerfish Western Atlantic 25 TL 1758
Xenobalistes tumidipectoris Western Pacific 6.1 SL 1981



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cfm script by eagbayani, 30.11.04, ,  php script by cmilitante, 05/11/2010 ,  last modified by cmilitante, 14/03/2013