Humuhumunukunukuapua'a - The Little Fish with the Big Name
Ranked #2,058 in Pets & Animals, #53,526 overall
The State Fish of Hawaii.... Almost Lost the Title, but Regained It By Popular Vote!
The funny little fish, Rhinecanthus rectangulus that seems to have a name longer than the fish itself--the common triggerfish, or as known in Hawai'i as the humuhumunukunukuapua'a is a common fish on the coral reefs of the Pacific Islands.
One of the protective measures triggerfish use to avoid predators is that they hide themselves in crevases and cracks in the reef. They puff themselves up such that they fill the whole opening, which makes it next to impossible to pull them out.
Like all members of the Balistid family--the triggerfishes--the common triggerfish has a spined front dorsal fin that acts as a "trigger", which "deflates" the fish and allows it to be easily removed from the hole.
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, Such a Name!
How to pronounce this name? Remember two "hoo-moo", two "noo-koo", and an "ah" "poo" "ah-ah" -- hoomoo hoomoo - nookoo nookoo - ah poo -ah-ah.
There ya go. Now say it 10 times quickly without giggling!
(Another way to remember this... a long time ago there was a song... that went "Oo, ee, oo ah ah, ting tang, walla walla bing bang"... and if you can sing that, then "hoomoo hoomoo nookoo nookoo ah poo ah ah" shouldn't be much of a problem for you.)
Read Up or Get Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Stuff!
Snorkel Kauai: guide to the beaches and snorkeling of Hawaii (2nd Edition) by Judy Malinowski
Snorkel Kauai is the one and only guidebook exclus more...0 points
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a--Better to Look At, Not That Good For Eating!
But as for eating? Nope.
Triggerfish tend to be sort of bony and with little available meat for all the trouble of perhaps catching one. They are occasionally caught in a fishnet with other reef fish which may be a whole lot more edible. If the fish is still alive, it may be returned to the reef water live another day.
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Stuff You Can Wear or Display!
Humuhumu Fish Hooded Sweatshirt
Here is some whimSEA with a Hawaiian trigger fish called a humuhumunukunukuapua'a. This striking and beautiful aquatic marvel of a fish is also fun to pronounce: "Hoo Moo Hoo Moo Noo Koo Noo Koo Ah
Humuhumu Fish Organic Men's Fitted T-Shirt (dark)
Here is some whimSEA with a Hawaiian trigger fish called a humuhumunukunukuapua'a. This striking and beautiful aquatic marvel of a fish is also fun to pronounce: "Hoo Moo Hoo Moo Noo Koo Noo Koo Ah
Humuhumunukunukuapuaa Kids Dark T-Shirt
Save the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa. This funny fish design makes a great gift for any Hawaiian fish lover. Please take a look at all our humorous humuhumunukunukuapuaa products.
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a in Fisherman's Catch - Time for Hukilau!
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Habits and Habitat!
The triggerfish will also often fill its mouth with sand and then sift through the grains while spitting them back out to separate out edible goodies.
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Swimming By! In an Aquarium!
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a swimming around base of coral head
Who Knew the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa Could Be So Popular ah ah..!
Create your own Squidoo world of lenses -- You can start here!
Just click on the icon below -- it's easy, it's fast, and best of all, it's FUN!
Squid graphic courtesy of Squidoo Squid Graphics For Your Lenses! by GreekGeek.
It's Wikiwiki (quick) -- just drop a note here!
-
-
JaguarJulie Oct 13, 2011 @ 2:09 pm | delete
- O-M-G my dear Dave, but that is one humdinger of a name! Quite interesting.
-
-
-
fanfreluche Aug 10, 2011 @ 11:30 am | delete
- Since I can't pronounce Humuhumunukunukuapua correctly, I am just going to bless it. Really it's the first time I read anything about that fish!
-
-
-
puerdycat
May 21, 2011 @ 2:50 pm | delete
- Isn't that a cute name!~ and here's the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAtAMOevo_M&feature=related
-
-
-
sorana
May 21, 2011 @ 2:37 am | delete
- What a long name for such a little fish. It sounds so funny when you try to say it. :) Very interesting lens.
-
-
-
NAIZA
May 10, 2011 @ 12:21 am | delete
- Humuhumunukunukuapuaa is a long name for a fish! How nice. This is really interesting. I learned something new today. Fantastic lens and pictures of fishes is amazing. :)
-
- Load More
by EditorDave
If you need documentation or editorial help, or assistance with financial services, please drop me a note.
Living on Guam is what now "defines" me. ...
more »
- 329 featured lenses
- Winner of 25 trophies!
- Top lens » Japanese Movies - The Old, Modern, Fun, and Bizarre!
Explore related pages
- Lion Fish, Turkey Fish - Venomous No Matter the Name! Lion Fish, Turkey Fish - Venomous No Matter the Name!
- Sharks - The Jaws of the Sea - Endless Eaters Sharks - The Jaws of the Sea - Endless Eaters
- Oceanography and Marine Biology -- a Curriculum Starter Oceanography and Marine Biology -- a Curriculum Starter
- Stonefish - A Boulder Variety of Fish Stonefish - A Boulder Variety of Fish
- Sea Cucumbers - Vacuum Cleaners of the Sea! Sea Cucumbers - Vacuum Cleaners of the Sea!
- Clown Triggerfish - Colorful Pacific Coral Reef Fish Clown Triggerfish - Colorful Pacific Coral Reef Fish
Well, it's easier to see these critters if you snorkel or scuba dive!
Snorkel Hawaii: The Big Island, 2nd Edition
Amazon Price: $94.99 (as of 06/01/2012)
This book gives you a lot of the cool places in Hawaii where you can get a glimpse of these fish--when you have a diving mask on! Get this book and you'll be able to see your share of humuhumunukunukuapua'a too! (Just don't try to say it when you are underwater!)
Wanna know how this critter got its name?
How the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa Got Its Name
Amazon Price: $59.95 (as of 06/01/2012)
This book will tell you how the humuhumunukunukuapua'a got its name. Well, at least that's what it purports to do.
The Hawaiian Picasso Triggerfish is ornamental, so get your ornament here!
Triggerfish Decor
Amazon Price: (as of 05/31/2012)
This makes a good ornament for your home, your office, your den, or your cubicle.... get one now before they all swim away!
