Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D1, III; D2, 25-27; A, III +21-23; P, 14-15  photo : J.E. Randall

SHORT DESCRIPTION Rhombus and slightly compressed body. Long snout with small terminal mouth with series of strong teeth. Head profile almost straight. Eye in upper part of head. Gill opening is a vertical slit in front of pectoral fin. The first spine in dorsal fin is large and stout and is capable of being locked by the second spine in erected position. Second dorsal fin and anal fins opposite each other. Pectoral fin short and round. Pelvic fin absent, replaced by a knob-like projection. Caudal fin slightly round. Body covered with rhomboid non-overlapping scales, forming mosaic-like surface. Two horizontal rows of small projections on the caudal peduncle. color : Black with large white blotches on the lower part of the body.Yellow network on the back. Whitish-yellow caudal peduncle. Two wide vertical lines on caudal peduncle. Orange to white area around the mouth and in front of the eye. size : 10-20 cm (max 30 cm) DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The distinct color pattern is different from all Mediterranean species. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Solitary species. Feeds on large invertebrates such as sea urchins, crustacean and mollusks with hard bodies. habitat : next to coral reefs at depths to 75 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Costa Daurada, Spain, 2012, (Weitzmann et al 2015) (underwater observation) DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Indo-West Pacific, from South Africa to Samoa. Not occurring in the Red Sea. Mediterranean : Costa Brava, Spain. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare. MODE OF INTRODUCTION Aquarium release. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None. Very popular in aquarium trade

KEY REFERENCES Matsuura, K. 2001.Balistidae. Triggerfishes. In: Carpenter, K.E. and Niem, V.H. (eds.). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 6. Bony fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), Estuarine crocodiles, Sea Turtles, Sea Snakes and Marine Mammals. FAO, Rome. 3911-3928 pp. Weitzmann, B., Mercader, E. and Azzurro, E. 2015. First sighting of Zebrasoma flavescens (Teleostei: Acanthuridae) and Balistoides conspicilillium (Teleostei: Balistidae) in the Mediterranean Sea: Two likely aquarium releases. Mediterranean Marine Sciences. 16(1), 147-150. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: January 2017 ©ciesm 2002