Rhinecanthus aculeatus

Osteichthyes Balistidae Genus Rhinecanthus Rhinecanthus aculeatus

Blackbar triggerfish HJC

18.3 cm TL

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Head tan, body blackish brown with tan patches, pale below, two pairs of oblique, white bars near anal fin, orange stripes from mouth to below pectoral fin.

Size:

Up to 25 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo–West Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Reef flats and lagoons, to 4 m depth.

Biology:

Feeds on algae, live corals, crustaceans, sea urchins, worms and smaller fishes.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught by gillnets, traps and drive-in nets.

Similar species:

Rhinecanthus rectangulus
Wedgetail triggerfish

Rhinecanthus rectangulus differs in having 4 or 5 rows of projecting spines on caudal peduncle (vs. 3) and a large, broad oblique black band from eye to anal-fin base (vs. having 2 pairs of oblique pale bars near anal fin).

to Rhinecanthus rectangulus

Rhinecanthus verrucosus
Blackpatch triggerfish

Rhinecanthus verrucosus differs in having large roundish black blotch on lower side of body (vs. having 2 pairs of oblique pale bars near anal fin).

to Rhinecanthus verrucosus

External links:

FishBase