Gray Triggerfish - Balistes capriscus
*Information from FAO Species Identification Guide Western Central Atlantic*
Size
Maximum to about 30 cm; commonly to 20 cm.
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Habitat, biology, and fisheries
Found in shallow water down to about 50 m depth. Nothing definite is known about the areas occupied by this species, but like B. vetula, it seems to occur in coral reef environments including shallow sandy or grassy areas as well as rocky bottoms. Feeds on bottom-living invertebrates. Caught incidentally throughout its range, but apparently not very abundant. Taken in bottom trawls, in traps, and on handlines. The flesh is of excellent quality. Consumed mostly fresh. Separate statistics are not reported for this species.
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Distribution
Both sides of the tropical and temperate
Atlantic, from Nova Scotia to Argentina,
including the Caribbean (rare) and Gulf of Mexico, and from England and Europe to Africa.
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