Marine Life

Yellow margin triggerfish

Vilu rondu

Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus

Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus is one of two large triggerfishes commonly seen by divers in the Maldives, the other being B. viridescens. Unlike B. viridescens, P. flavimarginatus does not aggressively defend its nests, which are typically found in deep lagoon areas; however, some individuals may be very aggressive.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 60 cm
color: Pale yellowish brown. Scales with dark centres. Front of head often light yellow-orange. Margins of second dorsal, anal and caudal fins often yellowish.
order: Tetraodontiformes
family: Balistidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/pseudobalistes-flavimarginatus.png
habitat and biology: This species is often encountered in a variety of habitats, but is more frequently seen in sheltered reef areas with a lot of sand. It feeds on benthic invertebrates.
distinctive characters: This species has a dorsal fin with three spines and 24-27 rays, an anal fin with 23-25 rays, a pectoral fin with 15 or 16 rays, a deep groove anterior to the eye, a shallow horizontal groove on the cheek, an anterior part of the cheek without scales and a posterior part with small scales, and a caudal peduncle with five or six rows of small spines. The caudal fin is rounded in young individuals and emarginate in adults, with the lobes prolonged in large adults.