Lagoon Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) ムラサメモンガラ – size 25cm – Humuhumunukunukuapuaa
The Lagoon Triggerfish are locally common in shallow reef areas where there is a lot of sand and rocks.
In Australia they are apparently called Hawaiian triggerfish. They do have them in Hawaii, but the state fish of Hawaii is the Rectangular Triggerfish. Both are called Humuhumunukunukuapuaa in Hawaiian. Amami 2023
This Lagoon Triggerfish would become light colored before it came up to nip at me. Afterwards it would become darker again. It must have been protecting its nest. Amami 2024