Name: Clown triggerfish
Scientific Name: Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch & Shneider, 1801)
Family: Balistidae
Group: Bony fish
Class: Fish
Size: 26-50 cm.
The clown triggerfish is unmistakable, given its particularly characteristic pattern of colours, which helps to deceive predators. It is black in colour with large round white spots and an orange ring around its mouth. It lives in the most exposed areas of the reef, close to steep slopes, up to depths of 75 metres. It is a solitary and uncommon species. It feeds on invertebrates with tough carapaces, such as sea urchins, crabs and some molluscs, which it crushes with its powerful teeth.
Photo by:
Abílio Leitão
Oceanário Location
Tropical Indian
