Melichthys is a small genus in the triggerfish family (Balistidae). Member species are found in the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean and even the Red Sea (M. niger). The Black triggerfish is the largest species in this genus at 45 cm in length and the Indian triggerfish is the smallest at 25 cm. Melichthys niger and Melichthys indicus are similar in appearance and are often confused.
| Melichthys | |
|---|---|
| |
| Melichthys vidua | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Balistidae |
| Genus: | Melichthys Swainson, 1839 |
Species
editThere are currently 3 recognized species in this genus:[1]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Melichthys indicus J. E. Randall & Klausewitz, 1973 | Indian triggerfish | Indian Ocean. |
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Melichthys niger Bloch, 1786 | Black triggerfish | Hawaii, up through Polynesia, westward to the East Indies and across the Indian Ocean |
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Melichthys vidua J. Richardson, 1845 | Pinktail triggerfish | Indo-Pacific. |
References
edit- ^ Matsuura, Keiichi (2014). "Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014". Ichthyological Research. 62 (1): 72–113. doi:10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5. S2CID 254172132.
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