Clown Triggerfish

The clown triggerfish is a fish which grows up to 50 cm (19.7 inches) in the wild, however not typically reaching this length in captivity. Its body has a stocky appearance, oval and compressed laterally in form. The head is large and represents approximately one third of the body length. The mouth is small, terminal and has strong teeth. The first dorsal fin is composed of three spines, one of which is longer and stronger. It is erectile and hidden in a dorsal furrow. This set of dorsal spines composes a trigger system which is a characteristic from the family Balistidae. The second dorsal fin is similar in shape and size to the anal fin which is symmetrically opposed to it. The pelvic fin is reduced to a ventral protrusion. The background coloration is black. Half of inferior part of the body is marked with large white rounded spots. The area around the first dorsal fin is crossed by bright yellow sinuosities which draw like a network reminiscent of leopard patterning. There is a yellow ring around the mouth, which is surrounded by another white ring. A white stripe rides the snout just under the eye level. The second dorsal fin and the anal fin are white and underlined with a yellow line at their base. The caudal peduncle has a yellowish blotch on its top part and has three horizontal sets of spiny scales. The caudal fin is yellowish in its center and has black margin. …

The clown triggerfish is widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean and in the western Pacific Ocean. A single record was reported in the Mediterranean Sea in Spanish waters in 2012, a likely aquarium release. It is most commonly found along external reef slopes with clear water with a depth of 1–75 m. Juveniles usually stay below depths of 20 m, and inhabit caves or overhangs. The clown triggerfish has also been documented in the Red Sea. This was also most likely due to an aquarium release.

Balistoides conspicillum has a varied diet based on different benthic organisms like molluscs, echinoderms, crustaceans and tunicates. They have also been recorded feeding on crinoids.