Indian Triggerfish

Indian triggerfish are abundant across the South Drop-Off reef slope, their blue-black bodies with white lines at the base of the dorsal and anal fins instantly recognisable against the coral. Like all triggerfish they are territorial nesters that will aggressively defend their egg patches — a circular cleared area of sand — from divers who approach too closely during the March to June breeding season. Their teeth are powerful enough to crush sea urchins, and they play an important ecological role as urchin population controllers on reefs where their populations remain healthy.