Helcogramma larvata Fricke & Randall, 1992

Family:  Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae
Max. size:  2.22 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 2 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: presently endemic to the North Male Atoll, Maldives.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 15-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 17-21; Vertebrae: 34-35. Diagnosis: Dorsal fin III + XI-XII+ 8-9, 2nd fin twice height of 1st; anal fin I + 16-18; pectoral rays 15 (1+7+7); pelvic fin I, 2, spine short and hidden, segmented rays simple, partially united by membrane. Vertebrae 10 + 24-25. LL total lateral scales 32-35; pored 20-22 scales, ends below 3rd dorsal fin; nape, belly, 1st and 2nd dorsal fin and anterior anal-fin base scaleless. Mandibular pores 2-3+1+2-3. Orbital cirrus small. Head length 3.5 in SL; eye 2.7, maxilla 2.1 in HL. Head, male masked ventrally, female with few dark spots. Fins pale, D1 with dusky distal margin. Live color unknown (Ref. 75031).
Biology:  Eggs 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: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 07 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.