Meet humuhumu ‘ele’ele the Black Triggerfish

Terry Lilley / Contributed photo

Humuhumu ‘ele’ele the Black Triggerfish

Most people are aware of the Hawaiian state fish, the humuhumunuknukuapua‘a, but they don’t realize we have several different types of trigger-fish that all begin with the Hawaiian name humuhumu. These fish all have a sharp spine on their back that becomes erect when they become threatened. They all can dart into a hole or crack in the lava reef then “trigger” their spine to lock into place so they are impossible to pull backwards out of the hole! Most of the trigger=fish sleep by themselves in holes in the reef where they are safe from being eaten by sharks and moray eels.

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