When sheltering in a small crevice, this locking helps protect the fish against extraction by a predator.

[6] The reef triggerfish is recorded to make three distinct sounds that have been categorized as grinding, drumming, grunting, and snapping.

Drumming sounds occur by flapping the pelvic fins from the sonic membrane creating a vibration connection to the swim bladder.

Although the true meaning of the snaps remains a mystery reef triggerfish show no signs of kin selection.

Triggerfish are thought to have low swimming maneuvers to compensate for such behavior there are morphological adaptations.

While swimming at low speeds their flexibility in dorsal and anal fins makes it capable for them to exhibit balistiform locomotion.

They also have white muscle that is effective in quick bursts of movement and helps aid them in complex maneuvers.

Both female and male picasso triggerfish are territorial in space for foraging and egg spawning.

While the female’s criteria is based on the amount of food resources, low predation, and space that is available, a male’s territory is determined by dominance.

[17] On April 17, 2006, bill HB1982 was presented to the Governor of Hawaiʻi, which permanently reinstated the reef triggerfish (humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa) as the state fish of Hawaii.

[19][20] The reef triggerfish also holds cultural values to the Hawaii natives although it is not endemic to the Hawaiian waters.

Pele requested the help of the underworld and other gods, and together they drove Kamapua’a over a cliff where he fell into the ocean water becoming the reef triggerfish.

The fish’s thick skin is meant to symbolize the armor needed to swim past the waves of Pele.