Philippines Photo Gallery: Anilao triggerfish and filefish

We took an underwater photography trip to the Philippines in December 2016. We returned in November 2024.

Triggerfish have an oval-shaped, highly-compressed body with a large head. Their teeth are adapted for crushing shells. The small eyes are set far back from the mouth at the top of the head. The anterior dorsal fin is reduced to a set of three spines. The first spine is stout and the longest. All three are normally retracted into a groove. They can be erected and locked into place for defense from predators.

Flagtail (halfmoon) triggerfish, Sufflamen chrysopterus

Red-toothed triggerfish, Balistapus undulatas

Orange-lined triggerfish, Odonus niger

Scrawled filefish (scribbled leatherjacket), Aluterus scriptus

Rhino filefish (Rhinoceros leatherjacket), Pseudaluttarius nasicornis

Last modified 11 December 2024