Description:

Dorsal spines: 3; Dorsal rays: 30-35; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 27-30.

Small to medium-sized triggerfish. Upper and lower head profiles convex. Shallow oblique groove on cheek. Ridges along hind scales less developed than 
those in M. niger. Caudal fin rounded.

Colour. Black - sometimes bluish or violet in life. Soft dorsal and anal fins with bluish white bases. Narrow white margin round caudal fin.  

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 25.0 cm TL.

Inhabits coral-rich seaward reef slopes (depth 1-30 m). Feeds on sponges, algae, crustaceans and small invertebrates. Solitary. Digs holes below coral 
bases for shelter. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. 
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. Not recorded in artisanal catch during catch monitoring during 2012-2022 catch survey 
(J. Nevill pers obs).  
 

Photo courtesy Eleanor Brighton and Chris Mason-Parker (c) 2022 Blue Safari Seychelles/Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles. Photograph taken at 
Alphonse group 2022.

fishIDER, CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection. Melichthys indicus. https://fishider.org/en/guide/osteichthyes/balistidae/melichthys/melichthys-indicus (05/09/22).   
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2022). FishBase.  https://www.fishbase.se/summary/7634 (05/09/22).
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4.

Nevill, J.E.G., Brighton, E. & Mason-Parker, C. (2022). Melichthys indicus, Indian triggerfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/melichthys-indicus-randall-klausewitz-1973/