the.com/triggerfish
A fish that locks itself into reef crevices and dares you to pull it out.
means A tough-mouthed, brightly patterned reef fish known for an erectable dorsal spine it uses to wedge itself into rock crevices to avoid being pulled out.
from The name comes straight from that spine mechanism: the first dorsal fin has a stout spine that locks upright, held in place by a smaller second spine behind it — press that 'trigger' spine and the whole thing releases and folds down. Early naturalists and fishermen noticed the gun-trigger-like action and named the fish for it, not for any aggressive temperament, though triggerfish have earned a reputation for that too.
- defense mechanism
- erects dorsal spine, jams itself into coral holes
- name origin
- second spine trigger-releases the first to unlock it
- temperament
- will bite divers over territory, especially nesting females
- diet
- strong jaws crush sea urchins, shells, and coral