Ocean Triggerfish

The species was first described by Samuel L. Mitchill, M.D. in Transactions of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York (1815) as the "trigger file-fish," Balistes sufflamen. The fish is dove- or ash-colored with a body fourteen inches long and five inches deep, excluding the dorsal fin, which can be collapsed into a furrow along the spine. The three spines on the first dorsal fin resemble the lock of a gun, with the rostral spine being the gun cock, and the caudal spine being the trigger. Canthidermis sufflamen has large, light brown eyes and frequently has darker colored areas at the bases of the pectoral fins and between the dorsal and anal fins. The darkness of the spot at the base of the pectoral fin has been noted to vary in individuals from different geographic regions.

The ocean triggerfish has a wide range and is considered a common to uncommon inhabitant of waters off of Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean islands. Its range extends as far north as Massachusetts, as far south as Brazil, westward to the Gulf of Mexico, and eastward to Bermuda and the Portuguese island of Madeira.

These fish are usually found in open water, far above coral reefs and often near sharp drop-offs. The females lay eggs in sandy areas and remain near their nests to defend them against predators.

This species is considered extremely useful for ecosystem management in the Canary Islands because it preys on sea urchins (Diadema aff. antillarum) that can otherwise alter benthic communities in this region.

The diet of the ocean triggerfish is composed of a wide variety of invertebrates, including soft corals, hydroids, zooplankton, small shrimp and crabs, benthic gastropods and bivalves, pelagic jellyfish, sea stars, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins.

The ocean triggerfish is a common food species in several areas, including the Caribbean and the island of Madeira. It is not commonly targeted by fisheries in the Western Atlantic. The abundance of this species varies from year to year in the Canary Islands, with some fisheries reporting more than 300 kg caught in a single day.