Tripterygion tartessicum Carreras-Carbonell, Pascual & Macpherson, 2007
Tripterygion tartessicum
photo by Pillon, R.

Family:  Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae
Max. size:  7.7 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 6 m
Distribution:  Mediterranean and Eastern Central Atlantic: along the southern coast of Spain, from Plage David (Morocco) to Tunisia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 19-21; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 22-24. This species has an elongated and compressed body, greatest height at base of anal fin, being about one-sixth total length. Entire body with ctenoid scales except base of pectoral fin and ventral abdominal region back to vent. Lateral line with an anterior section with 20 (19-22) pored scales, and a posterior section with 22 (21-24) notched scales, total of 42 (40-46). Upper, anterior, section commencing at upper angle of opercular opening, slightly curving up over the pectoral fin base and running parallel to the dorsal profile to a point below last 1-3 rays of second dorsal fin; canal running across exposed width of each scale. Lower, posterior, section commencing below, and in front of last scale or two of upper section, running along the mid-line of tail to caudal fin base; each scale with shallow notch in free-edge tip (Ref. 58124).
Biology:  Adults inhabit similar habitats to Tripterygion tripteronotus, shallow rocky shores to 6 m, preferably between 0 and 3 m; in light-exposed and shady biotopes dominated by algal communities (e.g. Corallina elongata, Cladophora spp., Litophyllum spp., Enteromorpha spp.). Nests are usually situated in sciaphyl habitats dominated by steep rocky zones, without arborescent algae (Ref. 58124). 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: 07 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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