How Titan Triggerfish Are Taking On Tiger Sharks

Divers in Fuvahmulah Atoll, Maldives recorded 10 cases in 2024 where titan triggerfish attacked tiger sharks.

The triggerfish usually bit the sharks’ tails or chased them briefly, and the sharks always retreated.

The behavior shows how a small reef fish can defend nesting territory against a much larger predator.

The findings also raise questions about whether shark provisioning and crowded ecotourism sites are changing reef interactions.