| Family: |
Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae |
| Max. size: |
4 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 18 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Palau, and Guam. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 14-18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 16-20. Male with reddish head and body, row of white blotches along side, additional row of white saddles on back, blackish tail, and black "mask" on front and lower half of head. Female translucent yellowish or orange with faint dark saddles/streaks on back. Dorsal rays III + XI-XV + 6-11; anal rays I,16-20; pectoral rays 16-18; pelvic rays I,2; lateral line interrupted, 13-20 + 13-22; head, chest, and pectoral-fin base scaleless; simple orbital tentacle present; mandibular pores 3-6 + 2-8 + 3-6. Maximum size to 4 cm TL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Adults occur in shallow waters, mainly on the reef flat or crest. They are found on shady vertical rock walls with some current and relatively high oxygen level (Ref. 27223). 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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