#titan triggerfish

You get a Titan Triggerfish

(Not so) daily drawing 2025 day 328:

Balistoides viridescens

Titan Triggerfish

Image source

Status: Least concern

ゴマモンガラっていうほどゴマ柄か？と思ってたけど、子供の姿めちゃくちゃゴマ柄だった

@幼魚水族館

This fish is called the 'sesame pattern triggerfish' in Japanese, but I didn't really think it looked like sesame seeds. However, seeing its appearance from when it was a child here, I finally understand. This definitely looks like sesame seeds.

So, you've probably seen them if you've been on my blog, but I fucking love triggerfish. They're my favorite fish along with pufferfish those that are related in. In fact, these guys are related. They're in the same order tetraodontiformes. This whole order has a lot of unique fish in them. Triggerfish are under the family name, Balistidae. What's a defining characteristic among all triggerfish are their methods of defense. See, these guys are like the honey badgers of the ocean. They are aggressive as a defense, and their dorsal fin acts as a wedge to prevent them from getting pulled out of the crevices in the coral reefs they often inhabit. Most of the pictures I share involving Triggerfish, are pictures taken before the fish attacked the cameraman.

Such as this one. (This one is my favorite because the diver approached it from behind, it saw that and gave the biggest frown I've seen ever a fish give before it charged at top speed.) These fish are very territorial, but they are rather easy to avoid. And you should avoid them. You absolutely shouldn't scoff at those teeth. The titan triggerfish is a notorious biter; crabs, urchins, crown of thorns starfish, and clams of all kinds are a regular part of this fish's diet. They are much like pufferfish (a fish with exceptional bite force that can take off a finger), except rather than being avoidant of people, the titan triggerfish wants the smoke and so do its smaller brethren. Diagram of the attack zone:

The bottom diagram is the best advice in this regard. Also, don't be swimming in an area of the ocean barefoot. Triggerfish are fin nippers like most fish are, and they will specifically target fins if that is the only thing they can reach. (Wouldn't be surprised if they think legs are "fins".)

I describe them in a way that makes them seem so menacing, but they're actually doing this to tell you to get the fuck off their property. And I mean, if you saw an ominous being not from your world hovering around your home with your kids inside, you'd probably freak the fuck out too.

This video actually shows the behavior pattern of all triggerfish, even if it's the largest fish of the whole family. The triggerfish charges forward, before quickly changing direction and then trying again. When that doesn't make the diver leave, that's when it comes in for a bite. It's also flashing its dorsal fin to show that it's very displeased. These fish aren't really that secretive, if they're unhappy, you'll know.

Here's a much smaller triggerfish employing the same tactics. The clown triggerfish can grow to 50 centimeters long (19.7 inches). It's about the size of a person's hand, really. Again, really avoidable, just respect the animal's space.

This one's a funny one. That's a Queen Triggerfish. The cameraman admits that this was taken a second before it tried attacking the camera.

Rhinecanthus is the most popular genus of triggerfish. You'll probably recognize it.

It's the do you fart fish. More specifically, it's a picasso triggerfish. It follows the same strat as the others, look.

Very elegant. Triggerfish are good parents in general. The worst of their aggression comes when they're nesting. You see right there is a father and mother protecting their kids. Father triggerfish are unique in the fish world for not leaving their kids behind. They're hyper aggressive to defend their mate. Sometimes a father trigger will have two mates, and one of them will come to help him in defense. They're very cool for having a more functional relationship with their spouse than actual people do.

______ Fish pic comp:

___ My fav set of titan triggerfish pics: