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Redtooth Triggerfish
Odonus niger (Rüppell, 1837)
Above and below: A Redtooth Triggerfish at a depth of 16m, Ribbon Reef #10, Great Barrier Reef off Cooktown, Queensland, December 2001. View larger image.
Redtooth Triggerfish sometimes hide in holes in the reef at night with only the tail protruding. This image was shot at a depth of 8m, Garove Island, Papua New Guinea, April 2003. View larger image.
The Redtooth Triggerfish is blue to purplish with a light blue head. All median fins (glossary) have light blue posterior margins.
The anterior portions of the second dorsal and anal fins are elevated. The caudal fin is lunate (glossary), with long lobes in adults. There are rows of small spines on the posterior sides of the body.
The upturned mouth has two long red teeth in the upper jaw. These are visible when the mouth is closed.
This species grows to 40cm in length.
It eats mainly zooplankton. Sometimes this fish is seen in large numbers swimming well off the bottom on steep outer reef slopes.
The Redtooth Triggerfish occurs on coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific.
In Australia it is known from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
View a low resolution movie clip (79k) of this species. Go to the movies page for high and low resolution versions.
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
