Forsterygion malcolmi Hardy, 1987
Mottled triplefin
photo by Clements, K.

Family:  Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Tripterygiinae
Max. size:  12.2 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 2 - 35 m
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: endemic to New Zealand.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 27-32; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-16; Anal spines: 2-2; 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 (Ref. 84085). 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 (Ref. 9003).
Biology:  Adults are abundant on rocky reefs from 10 to 25m, recorded from 2 to 33m (Ref. 84085). They occur in low tide pools and subtidal areas and prefer overhangs and holes containing sponges and bryozoans (Ref. 9003). Juveniles are found in shallow waters, while adults are more abundant in deeper waters. They feed mainly on crustaceans and small gastropods (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: 04 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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