Size: 8-24 in.
ID: Dorsal and tail fin streamers, 2 blue face lines
Class: Actinopterygii / Ray-finned fishes
Order: Tetraodontiformes / Boxfishes
Family: Balistidae / Triggerfishes or Leatherjackets
Genus Species: Balistes ventula /
Queen Triggerfish
Habitat: reef tops, coral rubble, grass beds
Typical food: variety of invertebrates, but mostly
sea urchins, clams, and crabs
Other information: shy, if frightened it wedges
into a crevice or hole for safety and uses its stout head spine (trigger)
and second smaller spine which moves forward and locks the first one
upright to the rock; puffs water to blow sea urchins over
(or picks them up by a spine and drops them) to get to the unprotected
underbelly for food by avoiding their spines
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