Clown triggerfish
| Clown triggerfish | |
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| At uShaka Marine World | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Balistidae |
| Genus: | Balistoides |
| Species: | B. conspicillum
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| Binomial name | |
| Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)
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The clown triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum), also known as the bigspotted triggerfish, is a demersal marine fish.
Taxonomy
[edit]Although it is in the genus Balistoides alongside the titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens), the genus is not monophyletic and requires revision. As a result, the clown and titan triggerfish are not each other's closest relatives. The clown triggerfish is possibly most closely related to species of the genus Melichthys and the orange-lined triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus).[2][3]
Description
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The clown triggerfish is a fish which grows up to 50 cm (19.7 inches) in the wild, however, in captivity it does not usually reach that length.[4] Its body has a stocky appearance, oval shape and compressed laterally. The head is large and represents approximately one third of the body length. The mouth is small, terminal and has strong teeth.
The first dorsal fin is composed of three spines, one of which is longer and stronger. It is erectile and hidden in a dorsal furrow. This set of dorsal spines composed a trigger system which is a characteristic from the family Balistidae. The second dorsal fin is similar in shape and size to the anal fin which is symmetrically opposed to it. The pelvic fin is reduced to a ventral protrusion.
The background coloration is black. Half of inferior part of the body is marked with big white spots which are more or less round. The area around the first dorsal fin is crossed by yellowish sinuosities which draw like a network reminding the leopard's patterns. There is a yellowish ring around the mouth, which is surrounded by another fin white ring. A white stripe ride the snout just under the eyes level. The second dorsal fin and the anal fin are white and underlined with a yellow line at their base. The caudal peduncle has a yellowish blotch on its top part and has three horizontal sets of spiny scales. The caudal fin is yellowish in its center and has black margin. Juveniles have a black background coloration spangled with small white spots, the extremity of the snout and the base of the first dorsal fin is yellowish.
These scales are thick, weakly overlapping, with a rhomboid shape. Each scale has two layers: the topmost layer being bone and the lower layer being collagenous.[5]
This fish has teeth that continuously grow. These teeth help them when feeding on crustaceans.[6]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]
The clown triggerfish is widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean and in the western Pacific Ocean.[1]
A single record was reported in the Mediterranean Sea in Spanish waters in 2012, a likely aquarium release.[citation needed] It is most commonly found along external reef slopes with clear water with a depth of 1–75 m. Juveniles usually stay below depths of 20 m, and inhabit caves or overhangs.[1]
The clown triggerfish has also been documented in the Red Sea. This was also most likely due to an aquarium release.[7]
Biology
[edit]
Although the clown triggerfish is widely distributed. Although it occurs in low numbers in the wild, it can be locally abundant.[1] These fish create harems after reaching one year of age. Though they are able to live up to 20 years, but reach sexual maturity at about one year.[6]
The female lays her eggs while the male fertilizes them in sandy patches. From here, the parents will defend the nest, for about eight days, until the eggs hatch. Which is when the female starts to care for them. Typically, clown triggerfish spawn in deep water, which is where the young stay until they grow close to 20 cm.[6][citation needed]
Feeding
[edit]Balistoides conspicillum has a varied diet based on different benthic organisms like molluscs, echinoderms and crustaceans.[8] They have also been recorded feeding on crinoids.[9]
Behaviour
[edit]This triggerfish has a diurnal activity, is solitary and defends a territory. It can be hard to find this fish in its habitat. It can be very aggressive with other fish and congeners.The clown triggerfish can be sociable the younger it is, however as it gets older, the less sociable and more aggressive it becomes.[4][verification needed]
The first long dorsal spine is erected to impress an opponent or deter a predator, preventing it from being pulled out of its shelter.[citation needed]
When the clown triggerfish is in danger it hides in holes. It is capable of locking the spine on their dorsal fin in place, while also locking their smaller dorsal and ventral fin in place. This makes it harder for the fish to be pulled out of their hiding hole.[citation needed]
In aquariums
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Because of its attractive coloration, this fish is one of the most highly prized aquarium fish.[10]
The juvenile clown triggerfish are sought out after more than adults since juveniles are less aggressive towards other fish.[1] Like many other triggerfish, it can require a large aquarium and be aggressive towards other fish. It should not be kept with small fish. Clown triggerfish can be housed with other large fish species such as moray eels and angelfish, but they thrive when kept alone.[4] It will also prey on invertebrates in the aquarium.[11][12] This fish can become tame enough to be hand-fed; however, one should beware of the fish's sharp teeth.[12] They have been known to take out chunks of flesh while being hand-fed.[4]
Decor in their tanks must be tough, as clown triggerfish will attack them.[4][verification needed]
There is high demand of the clown triggerfish in aquariums, and all captive specimens are caught in the wild. This can lead to local populations being impacted.[1]
The clown triggerfish, or any triggerfish should not be one of the first fish added to an aquarium. They should be one of the last ones, if not the last fish added as they will most likely not see their tank mates as potential food sources. Any fish or crustaceans added after the triggerfish is added is seen as food and usually attacked quickly.[4][verification needed]
Conservation status
[edit]The clown trigger fish is of least concern, however, this fish has been introduced into different ecosystems in different parts of the world. One place in particular is the Red Sea, in which the clown triggerfish was introduced, most likely intentionally, by a private aquarium keeper. This sea has a fragile ecosystem that has been under considerable stress from human impacts. One of the concerns is that the clown triggerfish that have been released into the wild may contain harmful bacteria that can impact wild fish[7]
Due to the clown triggerfish most likely being introduced by an aquarium, there could be potentially harmful effects, though the effects have not fully been recorded. It has also been recorded occasionally in the Mediterranean. While introduced reef fish species typically do not successfully establish in the Mediterranean, certain reef fish species have enough behavioural plasticity to successful invade non-native Mediterranean habitats.[13][14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Matsuura, K. 2022 (2022). "Balistoides conspicillum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T193740A2269848. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T193740A2269848.en. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Matsuura, Keiichi (January 2015). "Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014". Ichthyological Research. 62 (1): 72–113. Bibcode:2015IchtR..62...72M. doi:10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5.
- ^ McCord, Charlene L.; Westneat, Mark W. (January 2016). "Phylogenetic relationships and the evolution of BMP4 in triggerfishes and filefishes (Balistoidea)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 94: 397–409. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.09.014.
- ^ a b c d e f Clipperton, John (2013). "Triggerfishes of the Balistidae". UltraMarine Magazine. No. 42. pp. 70–75. ProQuest 1474179877.
- ^ Meunier, F J (March 2009). "Structure and mineralization of the scales in the clown trigger-fish Balistoides conspicillum (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae)". Cahiers de biologie marine. 50 (1): 47–56. INIST 21280291 ProQuest 20181111.
- ^ a b c "Clown triggerfish". Toronto Zoo. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
- ^ a b Stern, Nir; Rachmilovitz, Elad N.; Sharon, Galit; Diamant, Ariel (September 2018). "The dire implications of releasing marine ornamental fishes into the wild: first reported case from the Red Sea". Marine Biodiversity. 48 (3): 1615–1620. Bibcode:2018MarBd..48.1615S. doi:10.1007/s12526-016-0600-4.
- ^ "Clown Triggerfish". The Encyclopedia of Life.
- ^ Baumiller, Tomasz K.; Mooi, Rich; Messing, Charles G. (2008). "Urchins in the Meadow: Paleobiological and Evolutionary Implications of Cidaroid Predation on Crinoids". Paleobiology. 34 (1): 22–34. Bibcode:2008Pbio...34...22B. doi:10.1666/07031.1. JSTOR 20445573. ProQuest 229308061.
- ^ "Balistoides conspicillum summary page". FishBase. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ^ Dakin, Nick (1992). The Macmillan book of the Marine Aquarium. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 177. ISBN 0-02-897108-6.
- ^ a b Sanford, Gina (1999). Aquarium Owner's Guide. New York: DK Publishing. pp. 132. ISBN 0-7894-4614-6.
- ^ Marcelli, Massimiliano; Dayan, Abraham Rami; Langeneck, Joachim (June 2017). "Finding Dory: first record of Paracanthurus hepatus (Perciformes: Acanthuridae) in the Mediterranean Sea". Marine Biodiversity. 47 (2): 599–602. Bibcode:2017MarBd..47..599M. doi:10.1007/s12526-016-0573-3.
- ^ Kemp, J. (September 1998). "Zoogeography of the coral reef fishes of the Socotra Archipelago". Journal of Biogeography. 25 (5): 919–933. Bibcode:1998JBiog..25..919K. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2699.1998.00249.x.
External links
[edit]- Photos of Clown triggerfish on Sealife Collection
- ITIS - Report: Balistoides conspicillum, Retrieved [mai, 30, 2013], from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database, Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- Bailly, N. (2013). Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801). In: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2013) FishBase. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) on 2013-05-30