| Family: |
Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae |
| Max. size: |
3.91 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; marine |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: Kenya to Seyechelles, south to Mozambique. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 16-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 18-20; Vertebrae: 34-37. Diagnosis: Dorsal fin III + XIII+ 10, second fin twice height of first; anal fin I + 18-19; pectoral rays 15 (East Africa: 1+7+7, Seychelles: 2+7+6 or 1+8+6); pelvic fin I, 2, spine short and hidden, segmented rays simple, partially united by membrane. Vertebrae 10 + 24-27. LL total lateral scales 36-38; tubed 19-23 (21) scales; transverse 9/7; nape, and dorsal and anal-fin base scaleless, caudal fin base with 2 rows of scales. Mandibular pores 4-7+3+4-7. Orbital cirrus small, pointed. Head length 3.9 (Seychelles) or 3.0 (East Africa) in SL; eye 3.0; maxilla 2.4 in HL. Significant morphological character variation between Seychelles and East Africa specimens, in addition to mentioned above they also differ in mean head length. Live males brown with three narrow white saddle marks on body and with lower half of head black (Ref. 75031). |
| 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: 07 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
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