| Family: |
Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae |
| Max. size: |
3.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 24 m |
| Distribution: |
Southeast Atlantic: Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 16-18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 18-19. Description: Small fusiform tripterygiid, less than 3.5 cm SL. Dorsal fin IV + XIII + 10, first fin lowest, third fin highest, spines and rays with lateral branches; anal fin I + 18-19; pectoral rays 16, also branched; pelvic fin I, 2, spine short and hidden, rays slender, partially united by membrane; caudal rays 6+7, divided once (except the upper-and lowermost), procurrent 6+5. Vertebrae 11 + 23-24; pleural ribs 9, epipleural ribs 11. LL total lateral scales 34; pored series 15-18 (16) scales; posterior notched series scales 19-22 (22), two scale rows after the end of the pored series; transverse scales 3/7; head and body covered with scales including belly and bases of fins; scales ctenoid with stout ctennii, small and modified on cheeks and opercle. Head broad, blunt, and with spiny papillae on snout and perimeter of eyes. Mandibular pores 3+2+3. Infraorbital canal single, unbranched. Head orange, paler and banded in females. Body pale grey with 5 distinct deep orange bars, darkest on caudal peduncle (Ref. 35802). |
| Biology: |
Adults are found in shallow to deep reefs, 10-24 m (Ref. 35802). 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: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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