| Family: |
Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae |
| Max. size: |
2.92 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 1 - 8 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: appears to be restricted to the islands of the western and central Indian Ocean. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 15-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 17-19. Dorsal fin III+XII-XIII+8-11 (usually III+XIII+9-10); anal fin I,17-19 (usually 18-19 rays); pectoral fins 15: 2+7+6 (occasionally 3+6+6); lateral line with 14-16 (usually 15) pored scales and 19-23 (usually 20-21) notched scales, notched segment starting next scale row below end of pored segment, below mid-second dorsal fin. Total lateral scales 33; transverse scales 3/5. Vertebrae 10+25. Mandibular pores 3+2+3. Head length 3.1-3.6, body depth 5.4-5.9 in SL;
eye 2.7-3.2 in head length. A medium-sized species of Enneapterygius (less than 30 mm SL). Nape scaled, body scales continuing to bases of dorsal and anal fins; belly naked. Pelvic-fin rays not united by membrane. First dorsal fin equal in height to second, second about 70% of body depth. Simple, lobate orbital and anterior nasal cirri present. Supratemporal sensory canal slightly curved. Tongue triangular and sharply pointed; maxilla reaches vertical through
anterior margin of pupil; broad band of teeth in upper and front of lower jaw; palatines without teeth. Spines of first dorsal fin with small, laterally projecting spinelets (Ref. 57774). |
| Biology: |
Female members of the Tripterygiidae have eggs that are hemispherical and covered with numerous sticky threads that anchor them in the algae on the nesting sites (Ref. 240). Larvae are planktonic which occur primarily in shallow, nearshore waters (Ref. 94114). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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