Puffer or Trigger?

Hey guys!

I came across this juvenile at 45m depth. I don't know if it's a juvenile pufferfish or a triggerfish. It was approx 2cm.

Cheers

Shaff

Hey guys!

 

I came across this juvenile at 45m depth. I don't know if it's a juvenile pufferfish or a triggerfish. It was approx 2cm.

 

Cheers

 

Shaff

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Check now Drew.

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I can see it and did earlier.

I'm the farthest thing from an expert, but it looks like a baby puffer to me.

The way it is curling it's tail says puffer to me.

Hmmm....

I can see it and did earlier.

 

I'm the farthest thing from an expert, but it looks like a baby puffer to me.

same as that, i would say so beacuae of the eye shape and position. looking at other juv. photos they are very similar.

stew

I really wanted to say baby trigger .. cause of the markings

but i dont see any hint of the underbelly fin they normally have ?

Could it be a filefish?

The way it is curling it's tail says puffer to me.

I don't know how I missed it before. But it is definitely NOT a pufferfish. The dorsal fin is way off. Triggerfish or Filefish is a much better match of body shape.

That said being so wrong encouraged me to get out the books. And I am pretty confident that I have an answer.

It is a filefish trying to look like a pufferfish.... Mimic Filefish (Paraluteres prionurus) The colour in your photo is different than what you will see in the books (probably because your fish is so young that it's adult color has not yet completely developed). But if you look at the pattern of the spots and stripes it is a perfect match.

http://fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary...sname=prionurus

What I really find fascinating is how that it is not only mimicking the pufferfish's looks, but it is also mimicking the behavior of the pufferfish with the tail-curl.

My uneducated guess is either filefish or triggerfish because of the barely visible dorsal fin which I think is shaped very differently on a pufferfish.

I don't know how I missed it before. But it is definitely NOT a pufferfish. The dorsal fin is way off. Triggerfish or Filefish is a much better match of body shape.

 

That said being so wrong encouraged me to get out the books. And I am pretty confident that I have an answer.

 

It is a filefish trying to look like a pufferfish.... Mimic Filefish (Paraluteres prionurus) The colour in your photo is different than what you will see in the books (probably because your fish is so young that it's adult color has not yet completely developed). But if you look at the pattern of the spots and stripes it is a perfect match.

http://fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary...sname=prionurus

 

 

What I really find fascinating is how that it is not only mimicking the pufferfish's looks, but it is also mimicking the behavior of the pufferfish with the tail-curl.

Hi Guys,

I have to agree with acroporas and I think it's a juvenile mimic filefish. I showed the photos to Dr. Charles Anderson (one of the foremost marine biologists who studies the fishes of the Maldives), and here's what he replied.

"It is a juvenile Filefish. There is clearly a spiny first dorsal fin (folded down) in front of the second dorsal. Not sure about the species though. But in any case, juveniles are always a bit difficult. It is a nice photo!"

Cheers

Shaff

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26034596@N08/...57605090891087/

heres a minute filefish shot from lembeh, to me they also look very similar. have you got any other shots of it Shaff

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26034596@N08/...57605090891087/

 

heres a minute filefish shot from lembeh, to me they also look very similar. have you got any other shots of it Shaff

Hi Stew,

Here's the other 2 pics I took of it. I hope these help.

Cheers

Stew, yours looks like a juvvie strapweed filefish.

I agree with acroporas. Baby Mimic leatherjacket (blacksaddle mimic) - Paraluteres prionurus. Take a look at: http://www.starfish.ch/collection/filefish.html

I agree with acroporas. Baby Mimic leatherjacket (blacksaddle mimic) - Paraluteres prionurus. Take a look at: http://www.starfish.ch/collection/filefish.html

Yep...I think i now confirm that it's a Juvenile Paraluteres prionurus. Thank you all for the help!!!!

Shaff