Orange Lined Triggerfish [Bandos Island Reef, Kaafu Atoll, Maldives, Asia] .
The orange-lined triggerfish or orange-striped triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) is a triggerfish of the tropical Indo-Pacific area. It is the only member of the genus Balistapus. They reach a maximum size of about 30 cm. They feed on coral, crabs and invertebrates. They are found up to around 50 m deep in tropical waters. Triggerfishes are brightly colored fish of the family Balistidae. Triggerfish have a roundish, laterally flat body with an anterior dorsal fin often marked by lines and spots. They can erect the first two dorsal spines: the first one locks and the second one unlocks. This prevents predators from swallowing them or pulling them out of their holes. This locking and unlocking behaviour is why they are named 'triggerfish'. They have a small pectoral fin, fused to one spine. The spine of the triggerfish can be held in place by a second spine to make the fish more threatening to the predator. Their small eyes, situated on top of their large head, can be rotated independently. They have tough skin, covered with rough rhomboid-shaped scales that form a tough armour on their body. A big, angular-shaped head extends into a snout with strong jaws and sharp teeth, made for crushing shells. Each jaw contains a row of eight teeth, while the upper jaw contains another set of six plate-like teeth. Most triggerfish are solitary and diurnal. They feed on hard-shelled invertebrates, a few feed on large zooplankton or algae. They lay their demersal eggs in a small hole, dug in the ground. Some species guard their eggs. A few of the triggerfish species can be quite aggressive during reproduction season. In particular Picasso triggerfish and titan triggerfish viciously defend their circular nests against any intruders, including scuba divers and snorkelers. Their territory extends in a cone shape from the nest to the surface, swimming upwards puts one further into the fishes' territory. This photograph is part of the Imagine Images Collection, hosted by Alamy.
Size: 4784px × 3589px
Location: Bandos Island Reef, Kaafu Atoll, Maldives, Asia. .
Photo credit: © Al Pidgen / Imagine Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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