Queen triggerfish (Balistes vetula) fish species and information / pictures of Queen triggerfish - Balistes vetula

Queen triggerfish (Balistes vetula) fish species information

Scientific Name
Balistes vetula

Common Name
Queen triggerfish

Biology
Found over rocky or coral areas (Ref. 5217). May form schools, sometimes solitary over sand and grassy areas. Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 4727). It preys on sea urchins by blowing water to overturn it and then attacks it where the spines are short (Ref. 9710). Excellent food fish but occasionally can cause intoxication due to the liver.

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Puffers and Filefishes (Tetraodontiformes)

Family

Triggerfishes (Balistidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Ascension, Cape Verde, and Azores (Ref. 7348); ranges south to southern Angola (Ref. 4420). Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951) to Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Brazil (Ref. 7251).

Range

43°N - 35°S, 98°W - 14°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

28 °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

2 m

Depth To - meters

275 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 275 m (Ref. 4727), usually 3 - 30 m (Ref. 40849)

Trophic Level

3.4 s.e. 0.40 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

60.0 cm

Common Length

30.0 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: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (54 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.15-0.57)

Threat To Humans

Poisonous to eat

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU) (A2d)