Adults occur in shallow, sheltered waters, on hard corals; found on the upper part of coral reefs, usually along the reef margin in depths of about 1 m, often on corals covered by low algae. Also found in bays or sheltered lagoons . Eggs are hemispherical and covered with numerous sticky threads that anchor them in the algae on the nesting sites . Larvae are planktonic which occur primarily in shallow, nearshore waters .
Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 17 - 18; Vertebrae: 34 - 36. This species is distinguished by the following characters: low first dorsal fin, brown and green radii around the eye, males with yellow body and melanophores on head to base of pectoral fins, females with yellow-green body, brown stripe on nose and orange bar below eye; further, D III + XI-XIII + 9-10 (usually III + XII + 10); A I, 17-18 (usually 18 rays); pectoral fin 15: usually 3, 5, 7; lateral line with pored scales12-14, notched scales 20-23 (usually 22); longitudinal scale series 31; dentary pores 3 + 1 + 3 ; head 3.2-3.8 in SL; eye 2.9-3.7 in HL; nape partially scaled, abdomen no scales, single row of scales at base of caudal fin; supratemporal sensory canal crescent-shaped; supraorbital cirrus small and pointed; first dorsal fin about equal in height to second in males, lower in females .: fusiform / normal.
Behavioural data for Yellow triplefin is currently being reviewed.
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 14 m , usually 1 - ? m . Tropical East African coast to southern Kwazulu-Natal, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros and St.
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