Lei Triggerfish

Sufflamen bursa is a Triggerfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

Description

It is a medium-large triggerfish.Their base color ranges from yellowish-creme to brownish-grey with on their back a faded yellow to orange patch. They also have very light horizontal lines. Behind their eyes they posess two boomerang like stripes which can go from yellow to black. The characteristic scythe mark crossing the pectoral base is yellowish-tan to green in juveniles and subadults.

"Scythe" markings on the tail of the triggerfish contain pigments which may change hue from light yellow to dark brown depending on mood of the fish.

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-30; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 25 - 27. It grows to a size of 25 cm in length.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef in Australia, New Caledonia, and Rapa.

Habitat

Inhabit clear inner and outer reef habitats from exposed algae reef flats to deep along drop-offs. Occur in seaward reefs below the surge zone. Benthopelagic. Feed on crabs, bivalves, gastropods, algae, echinoids, tunicates, worms, eggs, and detritus. Oviparous.