Home · Balistidae · Boomerang triggerfish
Boomerang triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa) — Balistidae

Boomerang triggerfish

Sufflamen bursa
Family: Balistidae
LC · Least Concern

The Boomerang triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa) is a saltwater fish of the family Balistidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–120.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The boomerang triggerfish is a triggerfish from the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Hawaii and the Tuamotu Islands. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a brown body with two yellow to orange, scythe- or boomerang-shaped bands behind the eye, from which it takes its name. Like all triggerfishes it can lock the first dorsal spine upright. It lives on coral and rocky reefs and eats bottom invertebrates and algae. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Boomerang triggerfish?

The Boomerang triggerfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Boomerang triggerfish live?

The Boomerang triggerfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Boomerang triggerfish get?

The Boomerang triggerfish grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Boomerang triggerfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Boomerang triggerfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Boomerang triggerfish edible?

The Boomerang triggerfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Boemerang-trekkervis verified
English name
Boomerang triggerfish verified
Scientific name
Sufflamen bursa
Family
Balistidae
Other names
Boomerang triggerfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
120.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Sufflamen

More from the family Balistidae

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