Toothed fish

[galanthus]

Was out and about wombling last weekend near a coastal nature reserve in Wales . This was lying around on the beach, quite large, nearly as large as a dinner plate and it's not even whole I'm assuming this may be someone's deceased tropical pet, however, just wanted to check it out. Any info gratefully received.

[Fauna]

Hi there, not 100% sure, but this could be a Ballan wrasse, they are found in our waters.

[Dogghound]

Its Balistes capriscus the grey trigger fish. This species is native.

[Beekeeper]

Looks like it is wearing the ex mother-in-laws false teeth!

Ian

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Its Balistes capriscus the grey trigger fish. This species is native.

Native ? !! Good grief I had no idea we had fish with teeth of this nature in Britain. I'm so glad I posted it now, rather than just assume erroneously that it had been a discarded pet.

Thanks everyone. By the way Beekeeper, that made me smile lol.

[Dogghound]

They feed on mussels so are not a threat. We get Mako, Porbeagle and Blue sharks in the UK these all have far bigger and sharper teeth .

[Geoff F]

And the anglerfish (monkfish) have a massive mouth with long very sharp needle like teeth.

I've only ever caught trigger fish from late summer to early winter. Do they usually migrate to warmer waters during the winter or just become dormant?

[wizzo]

I was gonna say Trigger fish. They haven't been common here for long. That's certainly a big 'un! Fauna, good guess. Ballan Wrasse do have a good set of teeth too but resemble more closely, a human set of dentures. Had that been a Wrasse it would have been a new record breaker. Actually lots of native British fish have teeth of varying size. Geoff, the Trigger fish as far as I know was once only to be found on the south west coast around Dorset. Usually on inshore wrecks. Having not been involved in shore fishing for some time, have things changed with these fish? Wizzo

[Naturenutz]

The trigger can be found in the summer/autumn months on inshore wrecks around the portland area of dorset as stated,It prefers warmer waters.It can be found elsewhere around the south/southwest and maybe further north,but it does move out as temperatures drop in winter and then arrives back in mid summer i beleive.Think its favoured food is crab,thats what the fisherman use.
Certainly appears to be a very large one.

[Geoff F]

I have just checked my old fish book (1925) and that states they are basically tropical but can get carried along with the Gulf Stream. It gives records from Ireland and Brighton.

Until the end of 2008 I was a professional fisherman in Devon (for over 30 years) and can remember the odd fish being caught during the mid 1970's. Later on we would see 3 or 4 a year from inshore pots and occasionally when trawling.

As far as I am aware the situation is much the same now.