Red triplefin

📖 Overview

Red triplefin (Helcogramma steinitzi), first described by Clark, 1980 is a small fish in the family Tripterygiidae (order Blenniiformes). Adults typically reach 6.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 0 to 12 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. It is broadly omnivorous, taking invertebrates, plant matter, and detritus. The species largely solitary in behaviour. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 19 - 21; Vertebrae: 35 - 36. Dorsal fins III + XII-XIV + 10-12 (usually III + XIII + 10-11); anal fin I, 19-21 (usually 20); pectoral fins usually 15-17 (usually 16: 2, 7, 7). Lateral line continuous, tubed scales 21-27, ending below anterior part of third dorsal fin; total lateral scales 38-40 (37-41, from Clark). Nape, belly, and bases of first dorsal and anal fins scaleless; caudal fin with 1 or 2 rows of scales at base. Pelvic-fin rays bound together by membrane for half the length of shorter ray, longer ray reaches vent. First dorsal fin, triangular, originates over posterior margin of preopercle, in males first spine about as long as longest spine of second dorsal fin, but shorter in females; first two spines close to each other. Mouth large; maxilla reaches vertical through posterior border of pupil; orbital cirrus very small; dentary pores 3 + 1 + 3; head length 3.0-3.5 in SL . : elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Red triplefin is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 12 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Arabian Peninsula, northern Red Sea to the Persian Gulf.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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