Gray Triggerfish


This is a Gray Triggerfish.  Photo by David Snyder

Balistes capriscus

Features:
The Gray Triggerfish has large incisor teeth and a deep laterally compressed body covered with tough, sandpaper-like skin. Unlike their cousin, the filefish, triggerfish have more than one dorsal spine. The action of this spine gives the triggerfish its (common) name. The first spine is large, and when erect it remains so until the smaller second spine is deflexed, triggering the first. the gray triggerfish is easily distinguished by its drab color from the queen triggerfish, which is vividly colored.
  The Ocean Triggerfish, Canthidermis sufflamen is also uniformly Gray, but has black blotch at base of pectoral fin. 


Size: 5-9 inches; max 12 inches;
Depth: 15-50 feet;
Audubon Field Guide; page 671;
Reef Fish ID 3rd ed; page 394-395; plates 395;

see: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/Descript/Graytriggerfish/graytriggerfish.html


Rod Bigelow
Box 13  Chazy Lake
Dannemora, N.Y. 12929
< rodbigelow@netzero.net > 

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