Reef triggerfish facts for kids

The reef triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus), also known as the rectangular triggerfish or wedgetail triggerfish, is a type of triggerfish. It is famous for its long Hawaiian name: humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa. This name means 'triggerfish with a snout like a pig'. You can also call it humuhumu for short! This fish lives on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific ocean. It is also the official state fish of Hawaii.

The name humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa can be used for one fish or many fish. Another fish, the lagoon triggerfish (R. aculeatus), also shares this Hawaiian name.

Quick facts for kids Humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa
An illustration of the fish present on the fishes of Hawaii made in 1852
Rhinecanthus rectangulus, X-ray image
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification

What Does the Reef Triggerfish Look Like?

The reef triggerfish has bright blue teeth and a blue top lip. Its teeth are close together inside its round mouth.

How It Protects Itself

This fish has a special trick to stay safe. It has a small second spine on its back. This spine can lock its main dorsal spine into an upright position. When the fish hides in a small crack in the reef, this locked spine helps it stay stuck. This makes it hard for predators to pull the fish out.

When it needs to escape from danger, the reef triggerfish sometimes makes grunting noises. This might be a way to warn other triggerfish nearby.

How It Finds Food

The reef triggerfish is clever at finding food. It can blow jets of water from its mouth. This helps it find small creatures living under the sand or rocks on the seafloor. You might often see it spitting sand out of its mouth. It does this to sift through the material, looking for tiny bits of food or organisms to eat.

Behavior and Size

Reef triggerfish can grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long. They can be quite aggressive and usually prefer to be alone. They don't like other triggerfish too close to them. This is especially true when they are kept in aquariums.

These fish can change their colors very quickly. They can become duller when they are sleeping or feeling scared. Their colors are usually brightest when they are healthy and feel safe. Sometimes, they have been known to nip at swimmers, often around the ankle.

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  Juvenile reef triggerfish

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  Adult in Hāʻena State Park

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  The lagoon triggerfish, which shares the Hawaiian name humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa with the reef triggerfish.

The State Fish of Hawaii

The reef triggerfish was first chosen as the official fish of Hawaii in 1985. However, a Hawaiian state law meant this status expired after five years, so it stopped being the state fish in 1990.

But people in Hawaii loved the humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa! On April 17, 2006, a new bill was given to the Governor of Hawaiʻi. This bill aimed to make the reef triggerfish the state fish of Hawaii permanently. The bill was passed into law on May 2, 2006. So now, the humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa is officially the state fish forever!

Even before it became the official state fish, the humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa was a special symbol of Hawaii. It was especially linked to Kamapuaʻa, a famous figure in Hawaiian stories. The popular song My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii even mentions it with the line: " . . .where the humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa go swimming by . . ."

This fish also appeared in the Disney Channel movie High School Musical 2, which featured a song with its long name.