Redtoothed Triggerfish

Odonus niger

Redtoothed Triggerfish

Odonus niger

Other Common Names
Blue Triggerfish

Connected Coasts

Other Common Names

Blue Triggerfish

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

The redtoothed triggerfish ranges from blue to purple. The dorsal and anal fin begin half way down their body and end a little before their tail fin. The edges of their dorsal and anal fin and the outer part of their tail fin is light blue.

As their name suggests, this species has red teeth. Their two upper teeth are long and visible when their mouth is closed.

The redtoothed triggerfish can change its head to a yellowish color.

The maximum total length of redtoothed triggerfish is 50 cm.

Habitat

Reef slopes and current-swept seaward reef areas at depths of 5-40 m.

Diet

Zooplankton and sponges

Life History

Females lay eggs in nests on soft surfaces and guard them until they hatch. Males of this species are also very territorial.

As juveniles they generally live alone near crevices and isolated patches of rubble.

Redtoothed triggerfish commonly form large schools as adults.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Redtoothed triggerfish are caught for food in parts of its range, including in the northern Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Distributed in the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa, eastwards to the Marquesas and Society Islands, northwards to southern Japan, and southwards to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.

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.

Triggerfishes have a first dorsal spine that can be locked in an upright position. When frightened, they seek refuge in a favorite hole in the reef and wedge themselves in place by locking their first dorsal spine in the upright position.

Citations & Other Resources

Matsuura, K. 2022. Odonus niger. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.
Randall, J. E., G.R. Allen, and R.C. Steene. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press.
Ziyadi, M. S. F., A.J. Al-Faisal, and L.A. Jawad. 2023. Report of the Red-Toothed Triggerfish Odonus niger (Rüppell, 1836) from the North-East Region of the Arabian Gulf. Thalassas : Revista de Ciencias Del Mar, 39(1), 209–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-022-00500-x

Redtoothed Triggerfish

Redtoothed Triggerfish

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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