Animal Species:Orangestripe Triggerfish, Balistapus undulatus (Park, 1797)
The Orangestripe Triggerfish is dark green, brown or greyish with diagonal orange to yellow lines on the body. There is a large black blotch on the caudal peduncle. The species occurs near coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Standard Common Name
Orangestripe TriggerfishOrangestripe Triggerfish
Orange-lined Triggerfish, Orangestriped Triggerfish, Red-lined Trigger-fish, Red-lined Triggerfish, Striped Trigger-fish, Striped Triggerfish, Vermiculated Triggerfish
The Orangestripe Triggerfish can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. It is dark green, brown or greyish with diagonal orange to yellow lines on the body. There is a large black blotch on the caudal peduncle.
The species grows to 30 cm in length.
The Orangestripe Triggerfish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is known from north-western Western Australia and the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution by collection data
The species is found on coral reefs.
Feeding and Diet
It eats a wide range of food items. This includes live coral, algae, sea urchins, crabs, molluscs and other invertebrate groups as well a fishes and tunicates.
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology