| Family: |
Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae |
| Max. size: |
6.4 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m |
| Distribution: |
Southwest Pacific: known only from New Zealand. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 15-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 20-21. Distinctive 'tear-drop' marking on lower rear edge of eye. Larger blocks of brown above lateral line. Fin rays pale brown and membrane of fins transparent with irregular light and dark brown lines. Males: head and body olive green; fins mottled grey to reddish brown or olive green. Females: light brown covered with darker brown flecks. Distinguished from other triplefins by the absence of scales along the dorsal and anal fin bases. |
| Biology: |
Recorded from offshore islands and coastal rock stacks. Female members of the Tripterygiidae have eggs that 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: 06 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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