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Blenniiformes (Blennies) >
Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies) > Tripterygiinae
Etymology: Tripterygion: Greek, tres tria = three + Greek, pteron = wing, fin; diminutive (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Guichenot.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 3 - 40 m. Subtropical; 40°N - 30°N, 1°E - 36°E
Mediterranean Sea: Balearic Islands (Spain), southern Sardinia, Algeria, Tunisia, Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus, and southern Turkey.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.3 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4785); 4.5 cm NG (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 17 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 13; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 22 - 25. Body permanently red in color, females and non-territorial males with marbled head; in territorial males black; slightly dark, vertical bars, often white spots and bars along back (Ref. 4785). Territorial males with prolonged rays in second dorsal (Ref. 4785).
Adults inhabit dimly-lit areas, clinging to walls or ceilings (Ref. 4785). They feed on small invertebrates, especially harpacticoids (Ref. 4785). 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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Several females lay eggs on substrate of males' territory, often on sponges; eggs are guarded by the male (Ref. 4785).
Zander, C.D., 1986. Tripterygiidae. p. 1118-1121. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, . UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 3. (Ref. 4785)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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