DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ZOOGEOGRAPHY

ECOLOGY

BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

VALUE OF FISH RESOURCES

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

DANGEROUS MARINE FISHES

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SPECIES INDEX

CHAMORRO NAMES

BALISTIDAE (TRIGGERFISHES)

Balistoides viridescens (Bloch & Schneider)
(Spotted Triggerfish; Pulonon Matingin)
SL: to 53 cm (photo: 30 cm SL, Luminao Reef, 8 m)

Juveniles are commonly seen on isolated patch reefs in relatively protected, shallow, sandy, inshore areas; adults generally occur in deeper lagoon and outer reef habitats from 5 to at least 40 m.  This fish occurs solitarily or in pairs and feeds on a wide variety of armored invertebrates, particularly echinoids, as well as corals and algae.  It is very wary but has been known to attack divers while protecting its nest.  This and the similar-looking Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus, also at Guam, are the largest balistids and are occasionally ciguatoxic.

INDO-PACIFIC: Red Sea to the Societies, n. to s. Japan, s. to New Caledonia.