Clown triggerfish (Ballistoides niger to Ballistoides conspicillum) is found widely in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In the Pacific Ocean this is found from Japan south to Australia. This colorful fish can grow to about 12 inches in length. In many examples, there are large oval to round white spots on the body. The lips of adults are yellow to orange. The tail is rounded. In most examples there is a white bar across the lower forehead. There is an excellent image on page 393 of Kuiter's book on SE Australian fishes. This Kuiter image shows a very dark colored fish with very white spots. There is an area near the dorsal fin marked with a green pattern. The rounded black tail has a vertical green band.

Trigger fish (Family Balistidae) are a group of about 40 species of marine fish. These fish have two dorsal fins, and the forward dorsal fin has three spines. These fish get their name from their ability to lock the forward spine of the dorsal fin in an upright position. The genera Balistes, Canthidermis, Melichthys, and Xanthichthys belong here. (Some scientists combine this family with the file fish family Monacanthidae.)

Tetraodont (Tetraodontifomes) order contains the trigger fish, ocean sunfish, and the puffer fish.

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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