Home > Fishes > Triggerfishes > Balistes polylepis

Updated 6/21/2014

Family Balistidae

EASTERN PACIFIC / HAWAII

Balistes polylepis


Honokohau, Hawaii, 45 feet

Nests, Wai'anae, Oahu, 60 feet

FINESCALED TRIGGERFISH

An Eastern Pacific species recently established on reefs at scuba depths.  It is most likely to be seen along the leeward coast of Hawai'i.  A large but skittish fish that is difficult to approach unless guarding eggs, deposited in a circular nest among rubble.  Attains 30 inches.  Hawai'i and the Tropical Eastern Pacific.