Yellowmargin Triggerfish, Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (Rüppell, 1829)

Scientific name: Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus
Alternative name/s:
Black-spotted Triggerfish, Yellow-bordered Trigger-fish, Yellowface Triggerfish
Yellowmargin Triggerfish, Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus Click to enlarge image
A Yellowmargin Triggerfish at a depth of 15 m, Odyssea Point 1, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, 22 October 2009. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pseudobalistes
    Species
    flavimarginatus
    Family
    Balistidae
    Order
    Tetraodontiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 60 cm in length.

Introduction

Adult Yellowmargin Triggerfish are pinkish to grey with a cross-hatched pattern on the sides of the body and yellow fin margins. The species occurs in coral reef and inshore waters of the tropical Indo-west and Central Pacific.

Identification

Adult Yellowmargin Triggerfish are pinkish to grey with a cross-hatched pattern on the sides of the body and yellow fin margins. There is a deep groove in front of the eyes and five or six rows of distinct spines on the scales on the tail base. Juveniles are yellowish with small black spots and dark saddle-like markings crossing the back.

Distribution

The species occurs in coral reef and inshore waters of the tropical Indo-west and Central Pacific. In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.