Orange-striped Triggerfish
|
Fish. Orange-striped triggerfish are tricky swimmers able to move horizontally, diagonally and even hover over the reefs where they live. Only growing to 30 cm (1 ft) in length, triggerfish have an unusual defense mechanism. When threatened, the triggerfish wedges himself into a hole in the reef by raising the large dorsal spine on his head. He locks this into place with a second, smaller spine behind it. Only the fish himself can unlock his fins when wedged this way. Triggerfish make pig-like grunting sounds when danger is near. Their strong teeth allow them to eat tough food like mollusks and sea urchins. |
| Scientific
Name |
Lifespan |
| Balistapus undulatus |
2 to 4 years |
| Diet |
| Omnivore. They eat almost anything including sea urchins, algae, corals, mollusks, crabs, tunicates, and other fish. |
| Predators and Threats |
| Sharks, dolphins, large fish, and humans. |
| Habitat |
| Found on coral reefs in tropical marine waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans up to 50 meters (164 feet) in depth. |
