Titan Triggerfish

Photo: mattdowse · CC BY-NC

Titan triggerfish are territorial and aggressive on Nambatu's shallow crest, actively defending nesting sites against divers who inadvertently enter their conical exclusion zones above the reef. Their nests are flat sand patches cleared of debris, and the female guards them with genuine aggression — charging and biting have been documented. The species plays an important ecological role by overturning rubble and coral chunks while foraging, creating habitat disturbance that other species exploit for feeding.