Black triggerfish

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Black triggerfish

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Balistidae
Genus: Melichthys
Species: M. niger
Binomial name
Melichthys niger
Bloch, 1786

The black triggerfish, Melichthys niger, called Humuhumu'ele'ele in Hawaiian, is a blimp-shaped triggerfish with bright white lines running along its dorsal and anal fins. When in the water, it appears to be completely black. However, if it is taken out and exposed to bright light, one can see that it is actually of a dark-blue/green coloration.

Contents

[edit] Range

Circumtropical. Hawaii, up through Polynesia, westward to the East Indies and across the Indian Ocean. The Black triggerfish is also located around the southern coast of Africa.

[edit] Habitat

School of black triggerfish near Waikiki
School of black triggerfish near Waikiki

Open waters, shallows, exposed reefs, 5-35 metres (16-115 feet)

[edit] Size

On average, 12 inches, although it can grow to be up to 18 inches.

[edit] Diet

Omnivorous. Feeds upon small fish and squid. Shrimp, zooplankton, algae, and other marine plant life.

[edit] References

[edit] See also