Balistes vetula Linnaeus, 1758

Queen triggerfish

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Tetraodontiformes \| Balistidae
Synonyms	Balistes bellus, Balistes equestris, Balistes vetula trinitatis, ... more
Common names	Old wife, Turbot, Ol'wife, ... more

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Image of Balistes vetula (Queen triggerfish)

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This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray. 1986. (Ref. 7251)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Matsuura, Keiichi | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 60.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251); common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217); max. published weight: 5,440 g (Ref. 4699)

Environment

Reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 275 m (Ref. 4727), usually 3 - 30 m (Ref. 40849)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 28°C - ?; 43°N - 35°S, 98°W - 14°E

Eastern Atlantic: Ascension, Cape Verde, and Azores (Ref. 7348); ranges south to southern Angola (Ref. 4420). Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951) to Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Brazil (Ref. 7251).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 29 - 32; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 27 - 29. Greenish or bluish gray on back, orange-yellow on lower part of head and abdomen, with two broad diagonal curved bright blue bands running from snout to below and in front of pectoral fins, the lowermost continuous with a blue ring around lips; a broad blue bar across caudal peduncle, and blue sub-marginal bands in median fins (Ref. 13442).

Found over rocky or coral areas (Ref. 5217). May form schools, sometimes solitary over sand and grassy areas. Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 4727). It preys on sea urchins by blowing water to overturn it and then attacks it where the spines are short (Ref. 9710). Excellent food fish but occasionally can cause intoxication due to the liver.


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Vulnerable (VU) (A2d)	Poisonous to eat

Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

Tools
Biogeographic modelling \| Bio-Quiz \| E-book \| Field guide \| Identification keys \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| Point map

Special reports
Check for Aquarium maintenance \| Check for Species Fact Sheets \| Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.15-0.57)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100)	Medium

Entered by Luna, Susan M.

Modified by Pablico, Grace Tolentino

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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