Scientific Name
Balistes punctatus

Common Name
Bluespotted triggerfish

Biology
Found over sand and rock bottoms of coastal waters. Feeds on crabs and bivalves (Ref. 4727).

Classification

Classified By

Gmelin, 1789

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Puffers and Filefishes (Tetraodontiformes)

Family

Triggerfishes (Balistidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Morocco to Angola, including Madeira, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

200 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 200 m (Ref. 7348), usually 0 - 50 m (Ref. 7348)

Trophic Level

3.36 s.e. 0.43 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

60.0 cm

Common Length

25.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (44 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated