Starry Triggerfish
Abalistes stellatus
Triggerfishes have distinctive robust, football-shaped bodies with dorsal spines that can be locked into an erect position in order to wedge their bodies into holes or reef crevices at night for protection against predators. The Starry Triggerfish is readily recognised by having four white blotches on a blackish back and blue to yellowish spots on a white background over the rest of the body.
Morphology
Ovate body, more elongated than most other triggerfishes, with a distinctively long and narrow caudal peduncle. Grows to a maximum length of about 50 cm.
Evolution
A member of the Order Tetraodontiformes, a group that also includes leatherjackets, pufferfishes, porcupinefishes and oceanic sunfishes. The group is regarded as the most specialised and highly diverged of all the ray-finned fishes. This species is one of three currently recognised in the genus Abalistes, which is part of the Triggerfish family (Balistidae) containing 42 species.
Behaviour
Usually solitary, but forms pairs during breeding. Females guard eggs that are laid on the bottom. The diet comprises crustaceans, molluscs, and echinoderms.
Method of reproduction
Sexual
Habitat
Marine
Sand or silt bottoms, often near reefs, from shallow water to depths below 300 m.
Distribution
A widespread species, occurring throughout the Indo-West Pacific region.
Life Cycle
Oviparous
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Balistidae |
| Genus: | Abalistes |
| Species: | stellatus |
| Name Published Year: | 1798 |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name Authorship: | Anonymous |
| Commercial Impact: | None |
| Conservation Assessment: | Least Concern |
Cite this page
Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/Abalistes-stellatus
Accessed 1 May 2025
Rights
We support the open release of data and information about our collections.
Text content on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Image content on this page is copyright WA Museum.