Masked Triggerfish

Sufflamen fraenatum (Latreille, 1804)

syn. Balistes capistratus, Balistes fraenatus, Balistes mitis, Sufflamen capistratus, Sufflamen fraenatus, Sufflamen freanatus +1 more

38 cm8-186 mDangerousLeast Concern

718

The Masked triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum), also known as the Bridled triggerfish, is a species commonly observed in coastal reefs and lagoons. They inhabit a wide range of depths, from 8 to 186 meters.

It can be found from the 🌊 Red Sea (occasionally) and 🇴🇲 Oman (frequently) to 🇵🇫 French Polynesia, and extends southward to 🇿🇦 South Africa and Southeast 🇦🇺 Australia.

Feeds on echinoids, fishes, molluscs, tunicates, crustaceans, algae, polychaete worms, foraminiferans, and detritus. Reproduces by laying eggs.

Why it's threatened

Biological resource use

Intentional use: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest]

The Masked Triggerfish is of minor commercial importance to fisheries. It is harvested at the subsistence scale using drive-in nets, gill nets and traps (FAO 2001b). Only the individuals in the upper part of this species range are likely to be captured as this fishing methods tend to be used in the euphotic zone.

This species is associated with coral reef habitats. The coral reefs in some areas of this species' distribution have experienced regional and localized degradation due to coral bleaching, industrialisation, water pollution and other population pressures. As this threat not found throughout this species distribution it is not considered a major threat to the entire population.

Threat classification from the IUCN Red List.

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Related species

DangerousLC

Blue Triggerfish

Pseudobalistes fuscus

Dangerous

Bluethroat Triggerfish

Sufflamen albicaudatus

DangerousLC

Indian Triggerfish

Melichthys indicus

Largescale Triggerfish

Canthiderms macrolepis

Last Update: June 28, 2026