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Who?
Family: Balistidae
Species: Balistes vetula
Species ID: B.BV
Description: A roughly oval-shaped fish, with small eyes located at the top of the head, a large dorsal spine (1), large triangular dorsal and ventral fins at the rear of the body and a crescent-shaped tail. The body is greenish blue with a yellow to purple belly, and fine black lines radiating from the eye (2) as well as two thick blue bands running from the mouth to the edge of the gill cover (3). Sexes appear similar, and juveniles possess short fins and are paler than adults
Maximum Size: 60 cm (24 in)
Longevity: At least 7 years, possibly up to 13 years
Status: Vulnerable according to the IUCN endangered species list
Queen Triggerfish & People: Fished locally for food, but can be dangerous to eat due to the toxicity of the liver. Popular in the aquarium trade and often collected for export
Where?
Geographical Range: Occasional to common throughout the Caribbean. Also occurs in the eastern Atlantic along the coast of Africa
Coral Reef Zone: Back reef, fore reef and occasionally drop-off zones
Favourite Habitat: Queen triggerfish are usually found in rocky reef areas that contain crevices and other hiding places where their favourite prey, the sea urchin, hides
Depth Range: 2–275 m (7–900 ft)
A Day in the Life:
Dawn: Feeding activity increases and spawning may occur
Day: Fish feed and guard eggs in a nest if in the breeding season
Dusk: Feeding activity declines and fish seek shelter for the night
Night: Fish wedge themselves into crevices in the reef for protection
Who Eats Who
The queen triggerfish is a carnivore specialized in eating hard-shelled prey such as urchins, lobsters, crabs and shellfish. Being a fairly large and aggressive fish, the queen triggerfish is fed upon only by larger reef predators such as grouper, jacks, sharks and occasional reef visitors such as tuna and marlin.
Scuba Diver & Snorkeler Best Practices
Select environmentally friendly snorkel operations. Go ‘green’ when booking snorkel and travel plans—use companies that follow and promote eco-friendly practices, and abide by local laws and regulations like paying user fees for the use of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). You may wish to investigate staying at a hotel that practices energy conservation, and recycles and treats waste in a responsible way. Select only dive & snorkel businesses that follow a policy of best practices in all of their activities.
