Editing Reef triggerfish (section)

==Life History==

While there is limited direct information on reproductive modes and strategies for the reef triggerfish behaviors within triggerfish overlap one another. Examining the reproductive behavior of the picasso triggerfish one conclusion that can be drawn is that reef triggerfish exhibit similar behaviors.

Both female and male picasso triggerfish are territorial in space for foraging and egg spawning. While the female’s criteria is based on the amount of food resources, low predation, and space that is available, a male’s territory is determined by dominance. In the male’s case, a haremic mating system is placed where the more dominant males have more access to female mates. This is meant to increase the reproductive success of males however, while defending a female it can leave other females vulnerable to other males decreasing the reproductive success of the original male.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kuwamura |first1=T. |date=1997 |title=Evolution of Female Egg Care in Haremic Triggerfish, Rhinecanthus aculeatus |journal=Ethology |volume=103 |issue=12 |pages=1015–1023 |doi=10.1111/j.1439-0310.1997.tb00143.x|bibcode=1997Ethol.103.1015K }}</ref>

Males will generally invest more energy and resources in physical growth rather than reproduction. Females will invest more in reaching sexual maturity than halting physical growth. The difference in these life strategies reveals that females are smaller in size compared to males, but also an age difference.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Künzli |first1=F. |last2=Tachihara |first2=K. |date=2012 |title=Validation of age and growth of the Picasso triggerfish (Balistidae: Rhinecanthus aculeatus) from Okinawa Island, Japan, using sectioned vertebrae and dorsal spines |journal=Journal of Oceanography |volume=68 |issue=6 |pages=817–829 |doi=10.1007/s10872-012-0137-5|bibcode=2012JOce...68..817K }}</ref>