Operation: Fish!
Monday 11 May 2009
This is the moment a prickly leatherjacket triggerfish underwent an operation to have a growth removed from her tail at ZSL London Zoo.
© Claire Silva / ZSL
Prudence, from the Zoo’s Aquarium, was given general anaesthetic and kept constantly wet during the hour-long procedure after which laboratory tests revealed she had a benign tumour.
After the surgery Prudence, who is now doing just swimmingly, was returned to the Aquarium where visitors can see her making a full recovery.
Prickly leatherjacket triggerfish (Chaetodermis penicilligerus) are filefish which originate from the Indo-west pacific; they can grow up to 31cm in length.
