Animal Species:Yellowmargin Triggerfish, Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (Rüppell, 1829)

Adult Yellowmargin Triggerfish are pinkish to grey with a cross-hatched pattern on the sides of the body and yellow fin margins. The species occurs in coral reef and inshore waters of the tropical Indo-west and Central Pacific.

Yellowmargin Triggerfish at North Sulawesi

Yellowmargin Triggerfish at North Sulawesi
Dave Harasti © Dave Harasti

Alternative Name/s

Black-spotted Triggerfish, Yellow-bordered Trigger-fish, Yellowface Triggerfish

Identification

Adult Yellowmargin Triggerfish are pinkish to grey with a cross-hatched pattern on the sides of the body and yellow fin margins. There is a deep groove in front of the eyes and five or six rows of distinct spines on the scales on the tail base. Juveniles are yellowish with small black spots and dark saddle-like markings crossing the back.

Size range

The species grows to about 60 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in coral reef and inshore waters of the tropical Indo-west and Central Pacific. In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Yellowmargin Triggerfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
flavimarginatus
Genus:
Pseudobalistes
Family:
Balistidae
Order:
Tetraodontiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Ichthyology, Yellowmargin Triggerfish, Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus, Balistidae, Fishes, yellow, brown, odd-shaped, 30 cm - 1 m, stripes or bands, coral reef, marine, adult,