| Family: |
Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae |
| Max. size: |
4 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 55 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Micronesia, Line Islands, and Society Islands, and Taiwan to Australia (Ref. 90102); including Papua New Guinea, Line Islands and Society Islands; Taiwan to reefs of Coral Sea and New Caledonia (Ref. 54980). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 13-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 15-20. Identified by the tall first dorsal fin that is white in males (Ref. 48636). Large individuals may have conspicuous dark spot on upper middle of second dorsal fin connected to a band extending down the sides as well as about 5 darker bars on body and red snout and lower head (Ref. 37816). |
| Biology: |
Adults are found in various reef habitats, but often on sponges or reef outcrops (Ref. 48636). Also found in intertidal pools (Ref. 13227) and on corals and rocks (Ref. 37816). They feed on zooplankton (Ref. 48636). 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). The most common and most widely distributed among Enneapterygius species (Ref. 90102). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 13227. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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