Pallid Triggerfish, Sufflamen bursa (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Scientific name: Sufflamen bursa
Alternative name/s:
Boomerang Triggerfish, Reef Triggerfish, Scimitar Triggerfish
Boomerang Triggerfish, <i>Sufflamen bursa </i> Click to enlarge image
A Boomerang Triggerfish at a depth of 16m, Mantis Reef, far northern Great Barrier Reef, December 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Sufflamen
    Species
    bursa
    Family
    Balistidae
    Order
    Tetraodontiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 24 cm in length.

Introduction

The Pallid Triggerfish occurs in tropical marine waters of teh Indo-Pacific. It is grey-brown and white in colour.

Identification

The Pallid Triggerfish is grey-brown above and white below. There is a brown to yellow curved band through the rear of the eye and another above the pectoral fin. The rear edge of the pelvic flap is black.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to northern 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.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.