Norfolkia thomasi Whitley, 1964
Thomas' triplefin
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae
Max. size:  5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 20 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Western Australia in the eastern Indian Ocean to New Caledonia, Rapa, the Tuamoto Archipelago and MangarĂ©va.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 18-19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 20-22. Scales from head posteriorly to behind the eye but none on cheek; lobate supraorbital tentacle; body coloration white; yellow or orange on scale edges; 6 uneven, oblique, dark brown bands bifurcating ventrally; uneven brown bar below eye with white posterior border; females with thin, oblique, red and white bands on second and third dorsal fins; dull orange in males. Dorsal rays IV + XIV-XV + 9-11 (typically XV + 10); pectoral rays usually 15; lateral line discontinuous, 12-15 + 24-27; mandibular pores 3 + 2 + 3 (Ref. 54980).
Biology:  Adults are found in coral reefs and intertidal pools (Ref. 13227). 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: 06 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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