Estuarine triplefin

📖 Overview

Facultative air-breathing in the genus ; Adults occur in estuaries and lower reaches of rivers and streams where there is cover from rocks and submerged trees . They are also widespread on coastal rocky sea shores, on open coasts, bays, harbours, and inlets . 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): 24 - 27; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 24 - 26; Vertebrae: 42 - 44. Spines of first dorsal fin high, often as high as second dorsal, with posterior spines longer than anterior. Supraorbital tentacles simple. No sensory papillae on frontal, temporal and upper part of otic areas. Dorsal fin formula V-0N-0-1-0-1. Ten procurrent rays in upper caudal lobe, 9 in lower lobe; in upper lobe, 1 procurrent ray between upper lobe and posterior epural, 5 opposite epurals, 1 between anterior epural and neural spine of second preural, 2 anterior to neural spine of third preural vertebra; in lower lobe, 8 procurrent rays opposite haemal spine of second preural vertebra, 1 opposite haemal spine of third vertebra.: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Estuarine triplefin is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Males are strongly territorial,establishing and defefending spawning areas. This behavior may persist beyond the breeding months (Ref, 13730). Eggs are laid on firm surface such as a rock or the inside of a shell in a single layer .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; demersal; non-migratory ; depth range 0 - 3 m . Temperate Southwest Pacific: throughout New Zealand.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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