Clown triggerfish
(Balistoides conspicillum)
Facts
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IUCN NOT EVALUATED (NE)
Facts about this animal
The clown triggerfish is the most striking of the family, with its bright orange snout black body and white spotted body. It reaches a length of about 50 cm.
It is a widespread but not too common fish, which inhabits shallow coral and rocky reefs. Clown triggerfish are relatively shy solitary animals which tend to be territorial. In the wild they are usually difficult to approach.
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | ACTINOPTERYGII |
| Order | TETRAODONTIFORMES |
| Suborder | TETRAODONTOIDEI |
| Family | BALISTIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Balistoides conspicillum |
| Name (English) | Clown triggerfish |
| Name (French) | Baliste clown |
| Name (German) | Leopard-Drückerfisch |
| Name (Spanish) | Ballesta payaso |
| Local names | Bahasa Indonesia: Triger kembang |
| CITES Status | Not listed |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
Vladimír Motyčka
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Indo-Pacific and Atlantic oceans |
| Habitat | Coral reefs |
| Wild population | Unknown |
| Zoo population | Considering that most publc aquaria are not part of the WAZA system and do not register their collections with ISIS, available ISIS data are not significant. |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 51 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Fish must be unpacked carefully and under low illumination.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Clark Anderson
Why do zoos keep this animal
Clown triggerfish are not an endangered species but their habitats, coral reefs, are threatened in many places. They are thus presented by zoos and aquariums as an ambassador species for reef protection.