Niger Triggerfish

The Niger Triggerfish, also called the redtooth triggerfish, is a deep blue-green triggerfish (family Balistidae) in the genus Odonus, native to the Indo-Pacific. It is unusual among triggerfish for its more streamlined body and habit of feeding on plankton in open water rather than foraging strictly on the substrate. Its common name references the small reddish teeth visible at the front of its mouth. It is widely distributed, forms large aggregations over reef slopes, and is a popular aquarium species valued for its striking coloration and relatively peaceful demeanor compared to other triggerfish.

• Elongated, moderately deep oval body compared to other triggerfish
• Deep blue to blue-green base color with a purplish iridescent sheen
• Small, distinctive reddish teeth at the front of the jaw (visible up close)
• Crescent-shaped tail fin with elongated, trailing upper and lower lobes
• Tall dorsal and anal fins that sweep back toward the tail
• Reaches 30-40 cm

Distinguished from other blue reef fish by its triggerfish body shape, lunate tail with trailing lobes, and reddish teeth.

Niger Triggerfish inhabit outer reef slopes and drop-offs throughout the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific and northern Australia. They are typically found at depths of 5-40 m in clear, current-swept tropical water, often well above the reef in the water column where they feed on drifting plankton. Unlike many triggerfish that stay close to the substrate, this species ranges more freely into open water above reef structure, retreating to crevices at night or when threatened.

This triggerfish feeds primarily on zooplankton picked from the water column, supplemented with small benthic invertebrates, and is often seen in large, loosely organized aggregations hovering above reef slopes to feed on plankton swept by currents. It is more social than many triggerfish species, though individuals can still become territorial, particularly around nesting sites. Niger Triggerfish dig shallow depressions in sand or rubble to lay demersal eggs, which are guarded aggressively by a parent, typically the female, until hatching.