Reef Triggerfish

Rhinecanthus rectangulus

Reef Triggerfish

Rhinecanthus rectangulus

Other Common Names
Wedge-tail Triggerfish, Wedge Picasso Fish, Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa

Connected Coasts

Other Common Names

Wedge-tail Triggerfish, Wedge Picasso Fish, Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

The reef triggerfish is light brown which fades into white on its front lower half. It has a black band that starts at its eye and spreads widely over its belly. This fish also has a distinguishable gold-bordered black wedge-shaped mark near the base of its caudal tail. There is a red bar at the base of the reef triggerfish’s pectoral fin. There is little difference between the appearance of male and female reef triggerfish.

The reef triggerfish has a long snout with a small mouth and powerful teeth.

The reef triggerfish can grow to about 25 cm.

Habitat

Surge-affected reef flats and seaward reefs at depths of 1 to 20 m.

Diet

Algae, mollusks, crustaceans and other invertebrates.

Life History

The reef triggerfish begins its life as a small and spherical egg. Eggs are placed in a shallow hole in the sand and are aggressively guarded by an adult. Eggs are then fertilized by a male. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae develop into juveniles. Juvenile reef triggerfish are pelagic, meaning they live in the open ocean rather than the bottom. Eventually, they settle onto reefs and grow into adult reef triggerfish.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Reef triggerfish help keep coral reef ecosystems in balance by preventing algae overgrowth, eating other organisms and acting as food for predators.

Though this fish is not highly valued as a food today, people of ancient Hawaii would eat reef triggerfish. Reef triggerfish were also used as substitutes for pigs in some religious ceremonies.

Distributed in the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea south to East London, South Africa, eastwards to the Hawaii and Pitcairn Islands, northwards to southern Japan, and southwards to Lord Howe Island. Also present in northwestern and northeastern Australia and the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand.

This animal is not native to the Oregon Coast, however is found in the larger Pacific Ocean. It lives in the Aquarium as part of our Connected Coasts gallery.

When in a stressful situation the reef triggerfish can use their pectoral fins to create acoustic signals.

The Hawaiian name for this fish, Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, translates to “triggerfish with a snout like a pig.” It is also the official state fish of Hawaii.

Citations & Other Resources

Allen, G. R. 2013. Field Guide to Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia. Western Australian Museum, Sydney, AUSTRALIA.

Matsuura, K. 2022. Rhinecanthus rectangulus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022

Raick, X., D. Lecchini, L. Kéver, O. Colleye, F. Bertucci, and É. Parmentier. 2018. Sound production mechanism in triggerfish (Balistidae): a synapomorphy. Journal of Experimental Biology 221:jeb168948.

zsispeo, Rhinecanthus rectangulus Réunion, CC BY-SA 2.0

Taquet, M., and A. Diringer. 2012. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Quae, Versailles, France.

Leis, J. M., and B. M. Carson-Ewart. 2000. The larvae of Indo-Pacific coastal fishes: an identification guide to marine fish larvae. Brill, Leiden.

Randall, J. E. 1998. Shore fishes of Hawaiʻi. University of Hawaiʻi Press, Honolulu.

Waikiki Aquarium. 2013. Reef Triggerfish. University of Hawaiʻi. https://www.waikikiaquarium.org/experience/animal-guide/fishes/triggerfishes/reef-riggerfish/

Reef Triggerfish

Reef Triggerfish

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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