Osteological study of Titan Trigger fish, Balistoides viridescens (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Balistidae: Tetraodontiformes) from the Spermonde Archipelago Waters

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this research was to describe the osteology of Balistoides viridescens. The specimen described was collected from the Paotere Fish Market, Makassar City. The weight and total length of the specimen were 2.85 kg and 46 cm respectively. Osteological description was conducted after the specimen had been prepared and X-rayed. The specimen was cleaned and the flesh separated from the bones (skeleton) using a boiling method. The skeleton was then dried under the sun for 2 weeks. The dried bones were then prepared and arranged for osteological description. Photographs were taken with a Samsung EK-GC100 Camera. The results show that B. viridescens has a compressed body shape, a small mouth with incisiform teeth, 7 abdominal vertebrae, 7 pairs of ribs, 9 caudal vertebrae, and one urostyle vertebra.