Enneapterygius larsonae Fricke, 1994
Western Australian black-head triplefin

Family:  Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae
Max. size:  3.48 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 12 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 14-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-12; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 14-20. Male dusky red with black "mask" covering most of head, chest, and pectoral-fin base, about 5 whitish saddles/bars on back (a few extending on lower side), and white bar on pectoral-fin base (immediately posterior to black area). Female mainly brownish or greenish with white bars. Dorsal rays III + XI-XIV + 8-12; anal rays I,14-20; pectoral rays 14-18; pelvic rays I,2; lateral line interrupted, 14-20 + 13-20; head, chest, and pectoral-fin base scaleless; lobate orbital tentacle; mandibular pores 3-4 + 1-2 +3-4. Maximum size to 4.4 cm TL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Adults occur at shallow depths, often seen associated with coralline rocks, seagrass or algae (Ref. 13227). Eggs are hemispherical and covered with numerous sticky threads that anchor them in the algae on the nesting sites (Ref. 240). Larvae are planktonic which occur primarily in shallow, nearshore waters (Ref. 94114).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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