An Unexpected Encounter: Clown Triggerfish Photographed at Dalmeny
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In a remarkable discovery, Jeroen van Meenen (@jeroenvanmeenen) captured a photograph of a Clown Triggerfish, Balistoides conspicillum, during a dive with his daughter at Dalmeny, New South Wales. This species can be easily recognised by its distinctive pattern and colouration.
On the east coast of Australia, the species is recorded from Lizard Island, Queensland (14°40'S) to Port Stephens, New South Wales (32°45'S), making the Clown Triggerfish's appearance at Dalmeny (36°10'S) quite extraordinary. This location is approximately 250 kilometres further south than its recognized distribution. For more information on the distribution of the species, you can visit the species page on the Australian Faunal Directory.
Jeroen made his observation on March 30, 2024, at a depth of 7-8 meters. Reflecting on the moment, he stated, "Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get closer and take some better shots as I was with my daughter, and she was running low on air." Despite the circumstances, he managed to capture a photo of this unique encounter.
Upon seeing the Clown Triggerfish, Jeroen's initial reaction was a mix of surprise and admiration. "I thought, what the hell is a Clown Triggerfish doing here! And also, how amazing is this shore dive site with Grey Nurse Sharks, Turtles, Port Jacksons, and pretty cool landscapes. I need to go back there one day, bringing my sea scooter," he remarked.
This observation is a significant contribution to our knowledge of the distributional range of the species, and we extend our gratitude to Jeroen for uploading it to iNaturalist and joining the Australasian Fishes Project.
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What a surprise!
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