Pink-tail Triggerfish

ID points

• Dark brown body with a pink-white tail fin
• Dorsal and anal fins creamy white with a black line along the edge
• Rear edge of the tail fin squared off, the colour contrast very strong

Basics

Family

Balistidae

Length

25–40 cm

Depth

4-60 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Indo-Pacific coral reefs

Habitat

Clear outer reef slopes

Diet

Algae, crustaceans

Easily confused with

Clown TriggerfishA patch of large round white spots on the bellyTriggerfishEyes set high and far back on the head, well away from the mouthYellow-margin TriggerfishAll fins edged in a bright yellow margin

Fun fact

A dark brown-black body edged with white along every fin, and a tail that is white to pink-white all over, which is the signature mark of the species. The colouring is quietly elegant, and this is one of the best-looking triggerfishes there is.

More in this family

• Titan Triggerfish