Hawaiian Fishes 349 



This fish is distributed from Natal through the East Indies, Micronesia, 

 and Polynesia as far northward as the Hawaiian Islands. 



THE TRIGGER FISH FAMILY 



128 Family Balis tidae 



The trigger fishes are an interesting family of tropical shore fishes. 

 They get their common name of trigger fish from the trigger on the top 

 of their backs. This trigger is composed of two or three movable spines 

 representing the first dorsal fin. These spines may be stood erect or folded 

 into the back. When erect the first spine, which is very large and strong, 

 is usually locked in place by the spine behind it. The pelvic fin is likewise 

 replaced by a spine which together with the trigger forms a convenient 

 method of locking the fish into corners in rocks when it desires to rest. 

 These spines are so strong that once a fish has wedged himself into a 

 corner for the night with them, he may not easily be removed. The 

 trigger fishes all have strong jaws and a skin covered with rough, regularly 

 arranged scales. 



These fishes are carnivorous in their habits but in spite of this do 

 sometimes consume plant food. 



The trigger fishes are reputed to be poisonous and are very seldom 

 used as food. The tropical species contain an offensive alkaloid which 

 causes a disease called ciguatera. These poisons seem to become weaker 

 in the more northern species. 



Of this interesting family, only twelve species are known from the 

 Hawaiian Islands. 



Spotted Trigger Fish 



128-1 Canthidermis maculatus (Bloch) 



Drown from Fowler 



