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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Tropical

Surf Triplefin

Enneapterygius rhothion Fricke, 1997
Max Length
3.7 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.2
Depth
0–15 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Adults are found in shallow waters, surge channels and tidal pools around fringing reefs where wave action is high; some found in the big surf, oxygen-rich habitat . 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 .

Scientific Name
Enneapterygius rhothion
Authority
Fricke, 1997
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
3.7 cm
Depth Range
0–15 m
Trophic Level
3.2
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 17 - 21. Small supraorbital tentacle; first dorsal fin shorter by 50% than second dorsal fin; females translucent pale gray to white with red or dark brown double bars on body; an oblique, red to dark brown band from upper lip to eye; a red or dark brown blotch on opercle and pectoral-fin base; transparent median fins with red rays; males red with faint, dark brown bars; chest and lower half of head dark gray with scattered black spots almost as large as pupil. Dorsal rays III + XI-XIV + 7-10; lateral line interrupted, 14-18 + 16-20; mandibular pores 4-5 + 2 + 4-5 .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Surf Triplefin is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 15 m . Tropical Central Pacific: New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.2±0.3

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00617 × L3.03 (TL)
Max TL
3.7cm
Dorsal Spines
16
Dorsal Rays
9
Anal Spines
1
Anal Rays
19

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2010

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
10.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.2
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Fricke, 1997

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English New Caledonian Blackhead Surf Triplefin · Surf Triplefin

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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