About Melichthys niger (Bloch, 1786)
The black triggerfish, also called black durgon (scientific name Melichthys niger, Bloch 1786), is known as Humuhumu'ele'ele in Hawaiian. It is a blimp-shaped triggerfish with bright white lines running along its dorsal and anal fins. From a distance, it appears completely black. When inspected closely in good lighting, it can be seen to actually have mottled dark-blue/green coloration, often with orange toward the front of the head. Black triggerfish are capable of changing color based on their surroundings. This species should not be confused with its cousin, the Indian triggerfish or black-finned triggerfish (Melichthys indicus), which is often mistaken for the black triggerfish in the aquarium trade. The Indian triggerfish has never been found near Hawaii, but bears a striking resemblance to the black triggerfish due to similar shape and coloration. The black triggerfish has a circumtropical distribution. It occurs in Hawaii, extends up through Polynesia, westward to the East Indies and across the Indian Ocean. It is also found around the southern coast of Africa, and is common in the Indo Pacific and Red Sea. This species lives in open waters, shallows, and exposed reefs, at depths of 5–35 metres (15–115 feet). In the Ascension Island region, it seems to prefer inland and shore areas, where it is unusually prolific.
