| Family: |
Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae |
| Max. size: |
3.55 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 15 - 25 m |
| Distribution: |
Southeast Atlantic: Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 18-19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 21-22; Vertebrae: 35-36. Description: Small fusiform tripterygiid, less than 3.5 cm SL. Dorsal fin IV + XV + 10, first and second fin almost equal, lower than third, spines and rays (except on 3rd fin) with lateral branches; anal fin I + 21; pectoral rays 17; pelvic fin I, 2, spine short and hidden, rays slender, partially united by membrane; caudal rays 7+6, divided once (except the upper-and lowermost), procurrent 6+5. Vertebrae 11 + 24-25; pleural ribs 11, epipleural ribs 13. LL total lateral scales 34-35, pored series 15-17 (15) scales; posterior notched series scales 22-23 (23), two scale rows after the end of the pored series; transverse scales 4/8; body scales ctenoid with long ctennii, but cycloid on belly and pectoral fin axil. Head blunt, and with spiny papillae on snout, interorbital and perimeter of eyes. Nasal tentacles long and multifid. Orbital tentacles absent. Mandibular pores 4-5+2+4-5. Cephalic sensory canal system complex. Overall light red-orange with 5-6 narrow pale saddles extending to midline (Ref. 35802). |
| 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: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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