Fanged Triggerfish, Balistes rosasi

Fanged Triggerfish, Balistes rosasi. Fish caught in coastal waters off Caleta Agua Amargosa, May 1967. Length: 41 cm (16 inches). Weight 2.3 kg (5.0 lbs). Catch courtesy of Abundio Rodriquez, Caleta Agua Amargosa. Photograph courtesy of one of my creative readers.

The Fanged Triggerfish, Balistes rosasi, is a member of the Triggerfish or Balistidae Family, and in known in Mexico as colmillo cochito. Globally, there are seven species in the genus Balistes, three of which are found in Mexican waters, two in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific Ocean.

The Fanged Triggerfish have deep, rounded, robust bodies that taper toward the tail. They are very easy to identify due to their unique fanged teeth and their characteristic first triggerfish-like dorsal fin. They are a uniform drab brownish-tan color throughout. Their head has a rounded profile with a very elongated flat snout, modest-sized eyes, and a large mouth that opens in the front with powerful jaws and eight heavy human-like teeth on the upper and lower jaws. Their caudal fin is straight and their pectoral fins are elongated. They are covered with thick leathery skin composed of fine small scales.

The Fanged Triggerfish inhabit rocky reefs and slopes with borders adjacent to sand and are found from the surface to depths up to 200 m (660 feet). They reach a maximum of 51 cm (20 inches) in length and 3.2 kg (7.0 lbs) in weight. They are voracious predators and primarily consume fish. The Fanged Triggerfish is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

The Fanged Triggerfish is a resident of Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean but has a limited distribution being found within a 50 km (30 mile) range of Caleta Agua Amargosa, Baja California Sur.

From a conservation perspective the Fanged Triggerfish has not been formally evaluated. They are viewed by locals as an exceptional catch. A word of caution. Beware of THE CHOMP when handling these fish – they can bite like hell! I await a report on the food quality of this fish.