Ocean triggerfish
They swim by my moving their dorsal (top) and anal (bottom) fins side to side, unlike the normal fish motion of the caudal (tail) fin. You would think that with this unusual propulsion method that they would be slow and cumbersome, but they are absolutely neither of those. Hence, if we see one (say 1 in 25 dives), it is usually a brief and distant encounter. Here, I was lucky to get a close approach and the full profile to highlight their interesting anatomy.
I was looking through my backfile to remind myself the condition of the reef several years ago (so much better) and came across this image. Not sure why I didn't originally post it.
Ocean triggerfish
They swim by my moving their dorsal (top) and anal (bottom) fins side to side, unlike the normal fish motion of the caudal (tail) fin. You would think that with this unusual propulsion method that they would be slow and cumbersome, but they are absolutely neither of those. Hence, if we see one (say 1 in 25 dives), it is usually a brief and distant encounter. Here, I was lucky to get a close approach and the full profile to highlight their interesting anatomy.
I was looking through my backfile to remind myself the condition of the reef several years ago (so much better) and came across this image. Not sure why I didn't originally post it.