Teleostei (teleosts) >
Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes) >
Balistidae (Triggerfishes)
Etymology: Rhinecanthus: Greek, rhinos = nose + Greek, akantha = thorn (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Pablo Ruiz Picasso (1881–1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor. The vivid patterns and colours of Rhinecanthus triggerfish have led to them being popularly known as picassofish. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Linnaeus.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 7348). Tropical; 30°N - 30°S
Indo-Pacific: East Africa eastward through northern Australia to Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamotu islands, north to southern Japan.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 14.0 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4420); common length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450)
Commonly found in subtidal reef flats and shallow protected lagoons, Ref. 48637. Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Juveniles secretive with rubble patches, adults swim about openly but are usually shy (Ref. 48637). Territorial. Feed on algae, detritus, mollusks, crustaceans, worms, sea urchins, fishes, corals, tunicates, forams, and eggs (Ref. 3921). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Sleep on its side; makes a whirring noise when alarmed (Ref. 4420). Also caught with drive-in nets and is considered a popular aquarium fish (Ref. 9770).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Mating system may be a mixture of polygyny, monogamy, and potential promiscuity in solitary females but the primary mating system considered for this species is polygyny (Ref. 116439). Females are territorial, solely tending and guarding the eggs (Ref. 116451). Males exhibit polygyny (Ref. 116451).
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 130160)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.5 - 29, mean 27.7 °C (based on 1010 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01995 (0.01145 - 0.03476), b=2.92 (2.77 - 3.07), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.1 se; based on diet studies.
Generation time: 2.7 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 1
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.4).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (30 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 46.5 [19.5, 110.3] mg/100g; Iron = 0.619 [0.323, 1.399] mg/100g; Protein = 18.3 [16.2, 20.5] %; Omega3 = 0.115 [0.058, 0.223] g/100g; Selenium = 34.7 [18.2, 72.2] μg/100g; VitaminA = 54.6 [15.8, 190.6] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.12 [0.76, 1.64] mg/100g (wet weight);
