Common Name: Clown Triggerfish

Distribution: Uncommon in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Widespread tropical Indo-Pacific, East and South Africa, through Indonesia and east to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia and Australia. In Australia recorded from northern Western Australia, Queensland throughout the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, south to Sydney in New South Wales. Also recorded from the Great Australian Bight and Lord Howe Island.

Ecological Notes: Solitary as adults, usually in deeper water on reef drop offs. Juveniles secretive in small caves. Depth to 50 m.

Additional Notes: Uncommon throughout its range, adults usually seen singly in the open, retreating if approached. Brilliant colouration aids ready identification. Mouth is small with very strong teeth. Feeds on small molluscs, sea urchins, crabs and other crustaceans, tunicates. Grows to 30 cm.

References: Kuiter, R. H., Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Published by Crawford House Press Pty. Ltd., 1993. P.392-3.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=balistoides+conspicillum. Accessed 27/04/18.

FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Balistoides-conspicillum.html. Accessed 27/04/18.