see text Triggerfish are about 40 species of often brightly colored marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Balistidae.

Often marked by lines and spots, they inhabit tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, with the greatest species richness in the Indo-Pacific.

Most are found in relatively shallow, coastal habitats, especially at coral reefs, but a few, such as the oceanic triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata), are pelagic.

In the scientific name of the type genus Balistes this is taken directly from the Italian pesca ballista, the "crossbow fish".

[7] The largest member of the family, the stone triggerfish (Pseudobalistes naufragium) reaches 1 m (3.3 ft),[8] but most species have a maximum length between 20 and 50 cm (8–20 in).

The head is large, terminating in a small but strong-jawed mouth with teeth adapted for crushing shells.

The two pelvic fins are overlaid by skin for most of their length and fused to form a single spine, terminated by very short rays, their only external evidence.

Gill plates (opercula), although present, are also not visible, overlaid by the tough skin, covered with rough, rhomboid scales that form a stout armor on their bodies.

The anatomy of the triggerfish reflects its typical diet of slow-moving, bottom dwelling crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins and other echinoderms, generally creatures with protective shells and spines.

Both the Picasso (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) and titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) viciously defend their nests against intruders, including scuba divers and snorkelers.

In Hachijojima, Izu Islands, Japan, one male crosshatch triggerfish (Xanthichthys mento) has up to three females in his territory at the same time, and mates with them in pairs.

[12] A male and female blow water on the sandy bottom (usually in the same spot at the same time) and set up their egg site.

During actual spawning, eggs are laid on the sandy sea bottom (triggerfish are demersal spawners despite their large size).

Besides guarding, females roll, fan, and blow water on eggs to provide oxygen to the embryos, thereby inducing hatching.