Mottled triplefin
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing in the genus ; Adults are abundant on rocky reefs from 10 to 25m, recorded from 2 to 33m . They occur in low tide pools and subtidal areas and prefer overhangs and holes containing sponges and bryozoans . Juveniles are found in shallow waters, while adults are more abundant in deeper waters. They feed mainly on crustaceans and small gastropods . 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 .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 27 - 32; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 16; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 26 - 30; Vertebrae: 43 - 47. Body elongated, laterally compressed posteriorly; mouth strongly angled upward; notched scales absent; short, distally complex gill rakers, body yellow with a broad, black stripe extending along upper side of body. Dorsal fin formula V-0N-0-1-0-1. Six procurrent rays in upper lobe, 10 in lower lobe; in upper caudal lobe, one procurrent ray between upper lobe and posterior epural, 4 rays opposite epurals, 1 anterior first epural; in lower lobe, 1 procurrent ray between lower lobe and haemal spine of second preural vertebra, 4 opposite haemal spine of second preural vertebra, 5 anterior to haemal spine of second preural vertebra . Head and gill cover olive brown with pale stripes, body with 6 broad reddish vertical bands with irregular white bands between. Anterior bands extending to the dorsal fin .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Mottled triplefin is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Mottled triplefin is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction data for Mottled triplefin is currently being compiled.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; depth range 2 - 35 m , usually 10 - 25 m . Temperate Southwest Pacific: endemic to New Zealand.
🌿 Ecology
crustaceans and small gastropods (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 2 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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