Rhinecanthus assasi

(Forsskal, 1775)

Vernacular names
English : Picasso triggerfish
French : Baliste Picasso d’Arabie

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Tetraodontiformes
Family : Balistidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Body olive-beige with three black stripes on tail peduncle, orange spot near anal fin base. Moustache-like red-brown line from mouth to pectoral fin. Dark vertical band with blue lines near eye.

Range and habitat
Western Indian Ocean, only found in the Red Sea and north to Persian Gulf. Occurs in shallow sandy and rubble areas of coral reefs. Also reef flats.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is common in the wild and seems to be quite safe so far although it is caught locally for the trade. Habitat loss and pollution must be monitored.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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