Family Balistidae - Triggerfishes | ||||
Order | : | Tetraodontiformes | ||
Class | : | Teleostei | ||
No. in FishBase | : | Genera : 12 | Species : 42 Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes | ||
Environment | : | Fresh : No | Brackish : Yes | Marine : Yes | ||
Division | : | Marine | ||
Aquarium | : | many | ||
First Fossil Record | : | middle Tertiary middle Oligocene | Ref. Berg, L.S. 1958 | |
Remark | : | Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Habitat: shallow waters, mainly on coral reefs around the world, usually from just below the sea surface to 50 m depth. Morphology: body deep and moderately compressed; body, encased in very thick, tough skin with large scales easily seen as individual units; in many species, scales above pectoral-fin base are enlarged, forming a flexible tympanum; mouth small and terminal or almost terminal; teeth strong, 8 in the outer series of both jaws; gill opening is a moderately short, vertical to oblique slit in front of pectoral-fin base; dorsal fins 2, D1 III with second spine more than 1/2 length of first spine and the first spine capable of being locked in an erect position by second spine; second dorsal and anal fins are similar in shape; most dorsal-, anal-, and pectoral-fin rays are branched; pelvic fins rudimentary, represented by a series of four pairs of enlarged scales encasing posterior end of pelvis (Ref. 97685). Triggerfish normally swim by undulating their second dorsal and anal fins, but will use their tail for rapid bursts. Most triggerfishes are solitary diurnal carnivores, feeding on a wide variety of invertebrates including hard-shelled mollusks and echinoderms; some also feed on algae or zooplankton. They lay demersal eggs in a nest which is aggressively guarded by the female, less often by the male. Popular and hardy in aquaria, but often aggressive (Ref. 7463). | ||
Etymology | : | Greek, balein = to throw ( Ref. 45335). | ||
Reproductive guild | : | guarders | ||
Typical activity level | : | normal | ||
Main Ref. | : | Matsuura, K. 2015 | ||
Coordinator | : | Matsuura, K. 2015 | ||
Deep Fin Classification | : | Osteichthyes | Actinopterygii | Actinopteri | Neopterygii | Teleostei | Osteoglossocephalai | Clupeocephala | Euteleosteomorpha | Neoteleostei | Eurypterygia | Ctenosquamata | Acanthomorphata | Acanthopterygii | Percomorphaceae | Eupercaria | | | Tetraodontiformes | Balistoidei | | Balistidae |
Important recommendation:
The list below must not be used as an authority reference synonymy list like those found in scientific published revisions, which must be the source to be used and cited eventually when they exist.
Rather, it reflects the current content of FishBase, and the progress with respect to synchronization with the Catalog of Fishes. However, we think it can be useful for users to assess the quality of information in FishBase, to start new work on the family, or to cross-check with other lists.
But we appreciate to be cited in publications when this list has been of any working value. In particular, for published scientific, we suggest then to cite it in the Material and Method section as a useful tool to conduct the research, but again, not as a taxonomic or nomenclatural authority reference.
Unless it is explicitly precised, the list is not complete, please search all original names published for the family in the Catalog of Fishes (genera, species), including those with uncertain or unknown status, that are not included in FishBase when they are not attached to a valid species.
This list uses some data from Catalog of Fishes (not shown but used to sort names).
The list ordered as follows:
Please send comments and corrections if you detect errors or missing names.
Scientifc name | Status | Senior/Junior synonym | Combination |
---|---|---|---|
Balistes vetula Linnaeus, 1758 | accepted | senior | original |
Balistes bellus Walbaum, 1792 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes pellucidus Hermann, 1804 | ambiguous | junior | original |
Balistes equestris Gronow, 1854 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes vetula trinitatis Nichols & Murphy, 1914 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes capriscus Gmelin, 1789 | accepted | senior | original |
Balistes carolinensis Gmelin, 1789 | synonym | junior | original |
! Balistes caroliniensis Gmelin, 1789 | synonym | junior | original |
! Balististes carolinensis Gmelin, 1789 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes forcipatus Gmelin, 1789 | synonym | junior | original |
Nematobalistes forcipatus (Gmelin, 1789) | synonym | junior | new |
Balistes spilotopterygius Walbaum, 1792 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes capriscus Walbaum, 1792 | ambiguous | homonym | original |
Balistes buniva Lacepède, 1803 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes caprinus Valenciennes, 1839 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes fuliginosus DeKay, 1842 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes carolinensis Gronow, 1854 | ambiguous | homonym | original |
Balistes capriscus Gronow, 1854 | ambiguous | homonym | original |
Balistes taeniopterus Poey, 1860 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes powellii Cope, 1870 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes moribundus Cope, 1871 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes punctatus Gmelin, 1789 | accepted | senior | original |
! Balsistes punctatus Gmelin, 1789 | synonym | senior | original |
Balistes guttatus Walbaum, 1792 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes ciliaris Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes radiata Bowdich, 1825 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes dichrostigma Duméril, 1861 | ambiguous | other | original |
Balistes liberiensis Steindachner, 1867 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes forcipatus (non Gmelin, 1789) | misapplied | misapplied | original |
Balistes polylepis Steindachner, 1876 | accepted | senior | original |
Pseudobalistes polylepis (Steindachner, 1876) | synonym | senior | new |
Verrunculus polylepis (Steindachner, 1876) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes polylepis rubicundus de Buen, 1959 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes ellioti Day, 1889 | accepted | senior | original |
Balistapus undulatus (Park, 1797) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes undulatus Park, 1797 | synonym | senior | original |
! Balistapus undulates (Park, 1797) | synonym | senior | new |
! Balistopus undulatus (Park, 1797) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes aculeatus minor Forsskål, 1775 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes minor Forsskål, 1775 | synonym | junior | change in rank |
Balistes lineatus Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes aculeatus viridis Bennett, 1828 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes porcatus Gronow, 1854 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes sesquilineatus Lay & Bennett, 1939 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistoides viridescens (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes viridescens Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | synonym | senior | original |
Pseudobalistes viridescens (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
! Balistapus viridescens (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
! Balistoides veridescens (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes brasiliensis Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | synonym | junior | original |
Pachynathus nigromarginatus Tanaka, 1908 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes nigromarginatus (Tanaka, 1908) | synonym | junior | new |
Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes conspicillum Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | synonym | senior | original |
! Balistapus conspicillum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
! Balistoides conspicillium (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes niger Bonaterre, 1788 | ambiguous | junior | original |
Balistoides niger (Bonaterre, 1788) | synonym | junior | new |
Canthidermis maculata (Bloch, 1786) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes minimum Thiollière, 1857 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes maculatus Bloch, 1786 | synonym | senior | original |
! Canthidermis maculatus (Bloch, 1786) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes americanus Gmelin, 1789 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes macropterus Walbaum, 1792 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes angulosus Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes oculatus Gray, 1831 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes azureus Lesson, 1831 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes adspersus Tschudi, 1846 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes senticosus Richardson, 1848 | synonym | junior | original |
Canthidermis senticosus (Richardson, 1848) | synonym | junior | new |
Balistes longus Gronow, 1854 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes rufus Gronow, 1854 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes brevissimus Hollard, 1854 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes longissimus Hollard, 1854 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes munumum Montrouzier, 1857 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes um Montrouzier, 1857 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes melanopterus Cope, 1871 | synonym | junior | original |
Canthidermis viola Herre, 1926 | synonym | junior | original |
Canthidermis longirostris Tortonese, 1956 | synonym | junior | original |
Canthidermis sufflamen (Mitchill, 1815) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes sufflamen Mitchill, 1815 | synonym | senior | original |
Balistes macrops Poey, 1860 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes sobaco Poey, 1860 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes asperrimus Cope, 1871 | synonym | junior | original |
Canthidermis rotundatus (Marion de Procé, 1822) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes rotundatus Marion de Procé, 1822 | synonym | senior | original |
Canthidermis willughbeii (Lay & Bennett, 1839) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes willughbeii Lay & Bennett, 1839 | synonym | senior | original |
Canthidermis maculatus (non Bloch, 1786) | misapplied | misapplied | new |
Canthidermis macrolepis (Boulenger, 1888) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes macrolepis Boulenger, 1888 | synonym | senior | original |
Canthidermis longirostris Tortonese, 1956 | ambiguous | questionable | original |
Canthidermis villosus Fedoryako, 1979 | synonym | junior | original |
Melichthys niger (Bloch, 1786) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes niger Bloch, 1786 | synonym | senior | original |
! Melicthys niger (Bloch, 1786) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes ringens Osbeck, 1765 | synonym | other | original |
Melichthys ringens (Osbeck, 1765) | synonym | other | new |
Balistes radula Solander, 1848 | synonym | junior | original |
Melichthys radula (Solander, 1848) | synonym | junior | new |
! Melicthys radula (Solander, 1848) | synonym | junior | new |
Balistes verrucosus Gronow, 1854 | ambiguous | other | original |
Balistes kib Montrouzier, 1857 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes kibitar Montrouzier, 1857 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes piceus Poey, 1863 | synonym | junior | original |
Melichthys piceus (Poey, 1863) | synonym | junior | new |
Melichthys bispinosus Gilbert, 1890 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes fuscolineatus Seale, 1901 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes sillone Le Danois, 1961 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes buniva (non Lacepède, 1803) | misapplied | misapplied | original |
Melichthys buniva (non Lacepède, 1803) | misapplied | misapplied | misapplied |
Melichthys vidua (Richardson, 1845) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes vidua Richardson, 1845 | synonym | senior | original |
! Melichthys vidula (Richardson, 1845) | synonym | senior | new |
Pachynathus nycteris Jordan & Evermann, 1903 | synonym | junior | original |
Melichthys nycteris (Jordan & Evermann, 1903) | synonym | junior | new |
Oncobalistes erythropterus Fowler, 1946 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes erythropterus (Fowler, 1946) | synonym | junior | new |
Balistes vidua kamoharai Abe, 1958 | synonym | junior | original |
Melichthys indicus Randall & Klausewitz, 1973 | accepted | senior | original |
! Melichtys indicus Randall & Klausewitz, 1973 | synonym | senior | original |
Melichthys ringens (non Osbeck, 1765) | misapplied | misapplied | new |
Rhinecanthus aculeatus (Linnaeus, 1758) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758 | synonym | senior | original |
Balistapus aculeatus (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonym | senior | new |
Rhinecanthus aculeatus aculeatus (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonym | senior | new |
! Rhineacanthus aculeatus (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes ornatissimus Lesson, 1831 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes heteracanthus Bleeker, 1859 | synonym | junior | original |
Monacanthus cheverti Alleyne & Macleay, 1877 | synonym | junior | original |
Rhinecanthus verrucosus (Linnaeus, 1758) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes verrucosus Linnaeus, 1758 | synonym | senior | original |
! Balistes verrucosa Linnaeus, 1758 | synonym | senior | original |
! Rhineacanthus verrucosus (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonym | senior | new |
! Rhinecanthus verrucasus (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonym | senior | new |
! Rhinecanthus verrucosa (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonym | senior | new |
! Rhinecanthus verrucosuss (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonym | senior | new |
Rhinecanthus assasi (Fabricius, 1775) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes assasi Fabricius, 1775 | synonym | senior | original |
! Rhinecanthus assai (Fabricius, 1775) | synonym | senior | new |
! Rhinecanthus assasia (Fabricius, 1775) | synonym | senior | new |
Rhinecanthus cinereus (Bonnaterre, 1788) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes cinereus Bonnaterre, 1788 | synonym | senior | original |
Rhinecanthus rectangulus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes rectangulus Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | synonym | senior | original |
Balistapus rectangulus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
! Rhinecanthus rectangulatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
! Rhinecanthus retangulus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes echarpe Anonymous [Lacepède], 1798 | synonym | other | original |
Rhinecanthus echarpe (Anonymous [Lacepède], 1798) | synonym | other | new |
Rhinecanthus lunula Randall & Steene, 1983 | accepted | senior | original |
Rhinecanthus abyssus Matsuura & Shiobara, 1989 | accepted | senior | original |
Odonus niger (Rüppell, 1836) | accepted | senior | new |
Xenodon niger Rüppell, 1836 | synonym | senior | original |
Balistes erythrodon Günther, 1870 | synonym | junior | original |
Odonus erythrodon (Günther, 1870) | synonym | junior | new |
Xanthichthys ringens (Linnaeus, 1758) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes ringens Linnaeus, 1758 | synonym | senior | original |
Balistes curassavicus Gmelin, 1789 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes nitidus Gronow, 1854 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes notatus Gronow, 1854 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes elongatus Hollard, 1854 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes cicatricosus Poey, 1860 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes heckelii Müller, 1865 | synonym | junior | original |
! Balistes heckeli Müller, 1865 | synonym | junior | original |
Xanthichthys auromarginatus (Bennett, 1832) | accepted | senior | new |
! Xanthicthys auromarginatus (Bennett, 1832) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes auromarginatus Bennett, 1832 | synonym | senior | original |
Xanthichthys lima (Bennett, 1832) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes lima Bennett, 1832 | synonym | senior | original |
Xanthichthys lineopunctatus (Hollard, 1854) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes lineopunctatus Hollard, 1854 | synonym | senior | original |
Xanthichthys ringens (non Linnaeus, 1758) | misapplied | misapplied | new |
Xanthichthys mento (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes mento Jordan & Gilbert, 1882 | synonym | senior | original |
Xanthichthys gotonis Tanaka, 1918 | synonym | junior | original |
Xanthichthys purus Tanaka, 1918 | synonym | junior | original |
Xanthichthys surcatus de Buen, 1963 | synonym | junior | original |
Xanthichthys caeruleolineatus Randall, Matsuura & Zama, 1978 | accepted | senior | original |
! Xanthichthys caeuleolineatus Randall, Matsuura & Zama, 1978 | synonym | senior | original |
! Xanthichthys careuleolineatus Randall, Matsuura & Zama, 1978 | synonym | senior | original |
Xenobalistes punctatus Heemstra & Smith, 1983 | synonym | junior | original |
Xanthichthys greenei Pyle & Earle, 2013 | accepted | senior | original |
Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (Rüppell, 1829) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes flavimarginatus Rüppell, 1829 | synonym | senior | original |
! Pseudobalistes flavomarginatus (Rüppell, 1829) | synonym | senior | new |
Pseudobalistes fuscus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes fuscus Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | synonym | senior | original |
Balistes caerulescens Rüppell, 1829 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes rivulatus Rüppell, 1837 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes reticulatus Holland, 1854 | synonym | junior | original |
Pseudobalistes naufragium (Jordan & Starks, 1895) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes naufragium Jordan & Starks, 1895 | synonym | senior | original |
Abalistes stellatus (Anonymous, 1798) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes stellatus Anonymous, 1798 | synonym | senior | original |
Balistes stellaris Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | synonym | senior | original |
Abalistes stellaris (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
! Abalistes stellairs (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes vachellii Richardson, 1845 | synonym | junior | original |
Balistes phaleratus Richardson, 1846 | synonym | junior | original |
Abalistes filamentosus Matsuura & Yoshino, 2004 | accepted | senior | original |
Abalistes stellatus (non Anonymous, 1798) | misapplied | misapplied | new |
Abalistes stellaris (non Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | misapplied | misapplied | new |
Sufflamen fraenatum (Latreille, 1804) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes fraenatus Latreille, 1804 | synonym | senior | original |
Sufflamen fraenatus (Latreille, 1804) | synonym | senior | new |
! Sufflamen freanatus (Latreille, 1804) | synonym | senior | new |
! Sufflamen frenatus (Latreille, 1804) | synonym | senior | new |
Balistes capistratus Shaw, 1804 | synonym | junior | original |
Sufflamen capistratus (Shaw, 1804) | synonym | junior | new |
Sufflamen bursa (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes bursa Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | synonym | senior | original |
Hemibalistes bursa (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
Sufflamen chrysopterum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes chrysopterus Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | synonym | senior | original |
Hemibalistes chrysopterus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
Sufflamen chrysopterus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
! Hemibalistes chrysoptera (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
! Sufflamen chrysoptera (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | synonym | senior | new |
Sufflamen albicaudatum (Rüppell, 1829) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes albicaudatus Rüppell, 1829 | synonym | senior | original |
Sufflamen albicaudatus (Rüppell, 1829) | synonym | senior | new |
! Sufflamen albicaudus (Rüppell, 1829) | synonym | senior | new |
Sufflamen verres (Gilbert & Starks, 1904) | accepted | senior | new |
Balistes verres Gilbert & Starks, 1904 | synonym | senior | original |
Xenobalistes tumidipectoris Matsuura, 1981 | accepted | senior | original |