Taxonomy
''Balistoides'' was first proposed as a genus in 1935 by the English ichthyologist Alec Fraser-Brunner with ''Balistes viridescens'' designated as its type species. ''B. viridescens'' had originally been Species description, described in 1801 by the German naturalists Marcus Elieser Bloch and Johann Gottlob Schneider with its Type locality (biology), type locality not given. Nevertheless, its type locality is Mauritius, as the description was based on Bernard Germain de Lacépède's ''Baliste verdatre''. A 2016 study found that ''Balistoides'' was not monophyletic with ''B. conspiciillum'' being sister taxon, sister to ''Balistapus'' , with ''Melichthys'' being its next closest relative, while ''B. viridescens'' was recovered as sister to ''Pseudobalistes''. However, the 2016 study stated that the results concerning the "close association" of ''Balistapus undulatus'' and ''Balistoides conspicillum'' were only "moderately supported", and it has not resulted in the classification of the triggerfishes being changed.Etymology
''Balistoides'' sufffixes ''-oides'' onto ''Balistes'' and means "having the form of ''Balistes''".Species
''Balistoides'' contains 2 currently recognised species:Characteristics
''Balistoides'' triggerfishes have a laterally compressed caudal peduncle. The scales above the base of the pectoral fin and the gill slit are very enlarged and form a flexible Tympanum (anatomy), tympanum. There is an obvious groove on the snout in front of the eye. The teeth in the jaw are white and do not prominently project. Almost all of the cheek is covered with scales except for a very small fold at the corner of the mouth. The dorsal and ventral profiles of the head are concave, straight or slightly convex. The body is not plain black or very dark blue but is marked with different-coloured blotches and lines. ''B. viridescens'' has a maximum total length of , while the maximum published total length of ''B. conspicillum'' is .Distribution and habitat
''Balistoides'' triggerfishes are found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans from the eastern coast of Africa east as far as the Tuamotus and Line Islands, south to northern Australia and north to southern Japan. The two species in this genus are associated with coral reefs, at depths down to .References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2727049 Balistidae Marine fish genera Taxa named by Alec Fraser-Brunner