Triggerfish

The name is given because of a special dorsal spine, which can be locked in an upright position, allowing the fish to “hook up” in a crevice, for example to sleep. They are also recognized by a relatively large head.

Most species eat bottom dwelling animals or algae, which they carve off hard corals. An exemption is the Blue Triggerfish, which is a plankton feeder and can form large schools over the reefs.

Triggerfishes are known to protect their nests aggressively. They have large, sharp teeth, and more than one diver have paindul memories from a close encounter. So if you see a Triggerfish hover over a groove in the sand, keep your distance!

Triggerfishes can be from 20 to 75 cm, where Titan Triggerfish is the largest.