Pinktail Triggerfish

Juveniles with dark lines radiating from eye and dark lines on anal and soft dorsal fins (Ref. 4420).Description: Characterized further by dark brown body color; yellowish snout and pectoral fins; dorsal and anal fins white with black margins; caudal fin pink with white base; front of eye with deep groove; 28-32 head scale rows from corner of mouth to lower end of gill opening; 67-74 body scale rows from upper end of gill opening to caudal fin base; not prominent longitudinal ridges following scale rows of posterior body; truncate to slightly emarginate caudal fin (Ref. 90102).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 31 - 35; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 28 - 31

Feeds on fish, cephalopods, benthic organisms, and plants (Ref. 3921).

Occur in seaward reefs to depths greater than 60 m (Ref. 9710, 48637), with rich invertebrate growth (Ref. 48637). Common in coral-rich areas exposed to currents (Ref. 1602). Usually at moderate depths in small loose groups (Ref. 48637). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Diet consists mainly of algae and detritus but also takes in crustaceans, octopuses, sponges, and fishes (Ref. 1602). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Also taken with drive-in nets. Marketed fresh (Ref. 9770).

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

分布於印度-太平洋區，西起紅海、非洲東岸，東至土木土及馬貴斯群島，北至日本南部，南至澳洲大堡礁及新加勒多尼亞。台灣除西部及北部外，皆有分布。

通常以陷阱法、潛水或流刺網捕獲，以生鮮或醃製於市場出售，或以其可愛的模樣而常被飼養於水族館中，供人欣賞。

體稍延長，呈長橢圓形， 尾柄短。口端位，齒白色，無缺刻，至少最前齒為門牙狀。眼前有一深溝。除口緣唇部無鱗外，全被骨質鱗片；頰部亦全被鱗；鰓裂後有大型骨質鱗片；尾柄鱗片無小棘列。背鰭兩個，基底相接近，第一背鰭位於鰓孔上方，第I棘粗大，第II棘則細長，第III背鰭棘極小，不明顯；背鰭及臀鰭軟條截平，前端較後端高，向後漸減；尾鰭截平。體深褐或黑色；背鰭與臀鰭軟條部白色，具黑邊；尾鰭基部白色，後半部粉紅色；胸鰭黃色。

主要棲息於向海礁區，一般被發現於水深60公尺內的水域，通常生活於有洋流流經且珊瑚繁生的水域活動。主要以海藻及碎屑為食，有時亦捕食海綿、甲殼類、章魚及魚類。

The pinktail triggerfish (Melichthys vidua) is a species of triggerfish from reefs in the Indo-Pacific. It is very dark green (often appears almost black) with translucent whitish-pink dorsal and tail fins. They can grow up to 40 centimetres (16 in). It is also found in the aquarium trade.

Occurs in seaward reefs. Common in coral-rich areas exposed to currents (Ref. 1602). Diet consists mainly of algae and detritus but also takes in crustaceans, octopuses, sponges, and fishes (Ref. 1602). Also taken with drive-in nets. Marketed fresh (Ref. 9770).