Starry triggerfish (Abalistes stellaris)

Scientific name: Abalistes stellaris Bloch & Schneider, 1801

The Starry triggerfish (Abalistes stellaris) is a marine fish of the family Balistidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-27; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 24 - 26. Scales enlarged above the pectoral fin base and just behind the gill slit to form a flexible tympanum; scales of posterior body with prominent keels, forming longitudinal ridges. A prominent groove in the skin extending anteriorly from front of eye for a distance of about 1 eye diameter. Caudal peduncle depressed. Caudal fin rays of adults prolonged above and below.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Abalistes stellaris
Family: Balistidae (Triggerfishes)
Order: Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and Filefishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 60.0
Common length: 40.0
Environment: Marine; demersal; amphidromous
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Southeast Asia, north to Japan and south to northern Australia. Eastern Atlantic: St. Helena and south coasts of Africa.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)