Distinguishing Features
The balistoids are laterally compressed, generally rhomboid shaped fishes, although a few species such as
the clown triggerfish, are slightly elongated. They have a non-protrusible upper jaw, with hard, specialised teeth that in most species are designed for cracking the shells of various hard-shelled invertebrates.
Its body is heavily scaled and is generally green to dark grey in colour, with yellow or green fins with black tips, and a lower jaw, dark grey or purple in colour. In Thailand, the fish are predominantly yellow in colour.
They have independently rotating eyes, and their pelvic fins are fused into a single spine. They have 2 dorsal fins, the first of which is comprised of 3 spines, and this is where the trigger fish derives its name. They can use this spine, along with the ventral spine, to lock themselves into coral heads or rock crevices when threatened, and once they do they are immovable!
Titans are also known as the "Black-tipped" or "Moustached Triggerfish" due to their appearance - they have dark markings above the mouth which look like a moustache - and black edgings on their fins.
Its snout comprises about a third of its total length and its mouth is small with chisel-like teeth. Titan triggerfish can accelerate for short distances at a fairly surprising speeds. They can generally be found in the Indian Ocean and central Pacific at depths of around 10 to 30 metres.
It is the largest member of its family. Most grow 40 - 60cm in length, although there have been reports of larger ones up to 75cm lurking around as well.
Behaviour
Titan triggerfish are often solitary, and diurnal, meaning they are day-time fish, sleeping at night.
The nest of the titan triggerfish is usually in a flat sandy area amongst the corals, an area that it will defend with a passion. Mating season is a particularly aggressive time during which the trigger fish becomes even more territorial than usual. The teeth, designed for crunching through hard shells and coral, can inflict serious wounds on any would-be intruders.
Titan triggerfish won't always resort to violence though, on occasion just swimming at the intruder, usually a diver or snorkeller, to provide them with an escort out of the nesting territory. However, should a colourful male titan happen to charge in your direction, it's best to do away with bravado and retreat, using your fins as a barrier between you and the fish.
Their territory extends upwards in the shape of a cone, which means acceding will put you further into its territory, making a horizontal swim away from the nesting area the best escape route.Feeding Habits
Its body is heavily scaled and is generally green to dark grey in colour, with yellow or green fins with black tips, and a lower jaw, dark grey or purple in colour. In Thailand, the fish are predominantly yellow in colour.
While they may enjoy taking a nibble out of divers, titan triggerfish tend to feed on hard corals, hard bodied benthic invertebrates (shellfish, crustaceans and urchins) and algae. They have distinctly disruptive feeding habits, darting about the coral-scape turning over rocks, biting off pieces of branching coral and stirring up sand by fanning its fins or squirting water through its mouth in search of food.
Due to this intrusive style of feeding, titan triggerfish often have smaller fish groupies hanging about picking off left overs from successful kills and other scraps dislodged by their thrashing about.Reproduction
The triggerfish search for mating partners and are known to do mating dances with the chosen one. Both will vigorously protect the nesting area.
Sexually distinctive, the titan triggerfish will lay eggs that are fertilised externally. Eggs are laid after some preparation of the nest. They create a depression in the sand of the chosen nesting area by fanning it with their caudal and dorsal fins.
Although nesting or not, the male is usually aggressive and can attack unprovoked; a female guarding her nest can be equally aggressive. They will deftly defend the nest even against intruders much bigger than themselves.Life Cycle
Titan triggerfish spawn for about 4 days a month. The male will guard the nest and blow water over the eggs, ensuring a good supply of fresh water and oxygen. Once the larvae hatch they will swim away, presumably into the protection afforded by the coral reef.
Early on in the life cycle, zooplankton will be the source of nourishment until such time as the juvenile has matured enough to take on other delicacies of the coral reef.Predation
Although not much is known about what in particular preys on titans, one thing is for sure, they can defend themselves quite well.
At night or when threatened, the fish will wedge itself into a coral crevasse and erect its dorsal fin wedging itself in tight. The first spine is locked in place by the second spine and once that's in place, the fish is virtually immovable, resulting in the titan trigger fish not being considered an easy meal.Distribution
Titan triggerfish enjoy a wide distribution. Inhabiting the coral reefs found in Indo-Pacific region comprising Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Fiji and Australia, as well as further afield in the Maldives and the Red Sea.
Not a pelagic species, titans general stick to the flatter parts of reefs.
