Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Genus: Balistidae (Triggerfishes), Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and Filefishes)
Scientific Name: Sufflamen chrysopterum
English Name: Halfmoon triggerfish
Creole Name: Bours
French Name: Baliste demi-lune
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 3; Dorsal rays: 25-27; Anal rays: 24-25.
Greyish to greenish brown dorsally, with small pale spots. Whitish ventrally with yellow spots that can coalesce to form a reticulum particularly posteriorly. 3 large
oval white spots along the back and a small one dorsally on caudal peduncle; a broad white streak often on side of body posterior to upper end of gill opening. White
blotches and mid-lateral stripe can disappear with growth. An oblique groove before the eye; large bony scales behind gill opening. Caudal peduncle depressed, slender
and tapering. Yellow bands on dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin, yellow with white bars and stripes pattern and diffuse black margin, double emarginate, lobes longer
with growth.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 60cm TL
Habitat and Ecology:
Reef associated. Inhabits mud and silt sand bottoms (depth 7-350m), usually 7-100m depth on sand, sponge, and weed bottoms. Feeds on benthic animals, including crabs,
molluscs and sea urchins. Juveniles in sheltered coastal bays and estuaries.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in both the fish trap and hand line fisheries and is, along with Sufflamen fraenatum,
the most commonly caught triggerfish in the artisanal fishery.
Notes:
Abalistes stellaris is a synonym for this species.
References:
Bray, D.J. (2018). Abalistes stellatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/759 (30/10/18).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase https://www.fishbase.de/summary/abalistes-stellatus (30/10/18)
Matsuura, K. (2015). Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014. Ichthyol Res (2015)
62:72–113 DOI 10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5
Matsuura, K. & Motomura, H. (2015). Abalistes stellatus. The IUCN Red List 2015: e.T193587A56996805. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/193587/56996805 (18/06/22). .
Matsuura K, Yoshino T (2004). A new triggerfish of the genus Abalistes (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from the western Pacific. Rec Aust Mus 56:189-194
Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. & Mason-Parker, C. (2019). Abalistes stellatus, Starry triggerfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/abalistes-stellatus-anonymous-1798/ (updated 18/06/22).
Description:
Dorsal spines: 3; Dorsal rays: 26-28; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 23-26.
Adults have longitudinal scale row flanks. Variable body colour: yellowish-brown to dark brown some individual may be largely yellow posteriorly. The bar running from behind
the eye through the pectoral fin base can be yellow to green, whitish to blue, or black. Bluish-purple rim around mouth extending broadly down chin and belly. Deep groove in
front of eye. Scales with small spines forming longitudinal lines from caudal peduncle to below middle of soft dorsal fin. Caudal fin triangular and truncate with broad white
edge. Juveniles are yellowish above, white below and black laterally.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 30cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Inhabit coastal to outer reefs (depth 1-30m). Solitary and territorial. Feeds on a wide variety of invertebrates. Adhesive eggs are deposited on the sandy bottoms or in a reef
cavity. Female fans the eggs and defends the nest.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery, but is a very rare component of the catch.
Notes:
References:
Bray, D.J. Sufflamen chrysopterum in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/773 (05/11/18).
EOL (2006). Sufflamen chrysopterum, Halfmoon Triggerfish Encyclopedia of Life. http://eol.org/pages/210230/details (05/11/18).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). Fishbase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Sufflamen-chrysopterum (05/11/18)
McGrouther, M (2013). Eye-stripe Triggerfish, Sufflamen chrysopterum. Australian Museum https://australianmuseum.net.au/eye-stripe-triggerfish-sufflamen-chrysopterum (05/11/18).
Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Sufflamen chrysopterum, Halfmoon triggerfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/sufflamen-chrysopterum-bloch-schneider-1801/ (edited 19/06/22).
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