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Blenniiformes (Blennies) >
Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies) > Tripterygiinae
Etymology: Helcogramma: Greek, helkos, -eos, -ous = ulcer, sore + Greek, gramma = letter, mark (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr William Farr ‘Bill’ Smith-Vaniz (d: 1941) collected all the specimens examined by the author. (See Smith-Vaniz) (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 10 m (Ref. 6211). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: Sri Lanka; possibly also in nearby areas.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6211)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 17 - 20; Vertebrae: 35 - 36. Diagnosis: Dorsal fin III + XIII+ 10-11, second fin twice height of first in males (Comoro Is.); anal fin I + 19-20; pectoral rays 16 (2+7+7); pelvic fin I, 2, spine short and hidden, segmented rays simple, partially united by membrane. Vertebrae 10 + 25-26. LL total lateral scales 38-39, pored series 19-25 (121) scales, terminates at caudal fin base; nape with scales, bases of caudal and anterior of anal fin scaleless. Mandibular pores 2-3+1+2-3. Head length 3.4 in SL; eye 2.8; maxilla 2.2 in HL. Body with 5 H-shaped bars; dorsal, anal and caudal fins pigmented with spots or stripes. Live color not known but in alcohol females and juveniles are paler than males (Ref. 75031).
Adults live on rock surfaces and under ledges; common at depths less than 10 m (Ref. 6211). 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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hansen, P.E.H., 1986. Revision of the tripterygiid fish genus Helcogramma, including descriptions of four new species. Bull. Mar. Sci. 38(2):313-354. (Ref. 6211)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00617 (0.00288 - 0.01322), b=3.04 (2.86 - 3.22), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.0 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
