Reef Triggerfish
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| Reef Triggerfish | ||||||||||||||
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| Missing image Humuhumunukunukuapuaa.jpg Image:humuhumunukunukuapuaa.jpg | ||||||||||||||
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| Rhinecanthus rectangulus Bloch & Schneider, 1801 |
The Reef Triggerfish, also known by its Hawaiian name, humuhumu nukunuku apua‘a(meaning "fish with a nose like a pig), is one of several species of triggerfish. Classified as Rhinecanthus rectangulus, it is endemic to the salt water coasts of various central and south Pacific Ocean islands.
Info
The Triggerfish has a small second spine, which it can use to lock its first spine into an upright position. The reason for this is so they can wedge themselves into a small hole for protection.
Its teeth are set close together inside its relatively small mouth. What is interesting about this fish is the fact that basically all species of Triggerfish make grunting noises. This is why the Hawaiian name means, "The fish that makes a sound like a pig."
Diet
Because of their extremely sharp teeth and powerful jaws, these fish feed on hard-shelled invertebrates like mollusks and crabs. The Reef Triggerfish also feeds on algae.
Area
The Reef Triggerfish is especially prominent in the coral reefs of the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the official state fish.