Threefin blenny
Encyclopedia
Threefin or triplefin blennies are blennioids, small perciform marine fish
of the family Tripterygiidae. Found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic
, Pacific
and Indian Ocean
s, the family contains approximately 150 species in 30 genera. The family name derives from the Greek
tripteros meaning "with three wings".
With an elongate, typical blenny form, threefin blennies differ from their relatives by having a dorsal fin
separated into three parts (hence the name); the first two are spinous. The small, slender pelvic fins are located underneath the throat and possess a single spine; the large anal fin may have one or two spines. The pectoral fins are greatly enlarged, and the tail fin is rounded. The New Zealand topknot
, Notoclinus fenestratus, is the largest species at 20 cm in total length; most other species do not exceed 6 cm.
Many threefin blennies are brightly coloured, often for reasons of camouflage
; these species are popular in the aquarium
hobby. As demersal fish, threefin blennies spend most of their time on or near the bottom on coral
and rocks. The fish are typically found in shallow, clear waters with sun exposure, such as lagoon
s and seaward reef
s; nervous fish, they retreat to rock crevices at any perceived threat.
Threefin blennies are diurnal
and territorial; many species exhibit sexual dichromatism
, with the females drab compared to the males. The second dorsal fin is also extended in the males of some species. Small invertebrate
s comprise the bulk of the threefin blenny diet.
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Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
of the family Tripterygiidae. Found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
s, the family contains approximately 150 species in 30 genera. The family name derives from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
tripteros meaning "with three wings".
With an elongate, typical blenny form, threefin blennies differ from their relatives by having a dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
separated into three parts (hence the name); the first two are spinous. The small, slender pelvic fins are located underneath the throat and possess a single spine; the large anal fin may have one or two spines. The pectoral fins are greatly enlarged, and the tail fin is rounded. The New Zealand topknot
New Zealand topknot
The New Zealand topknot, Notoclinus fenestratus, is a triplefin of the genus Notoclinus, found around the North Island of New Zealand in reef areas of broken rock and brown seaweed.-References:...
, Notoclinus fenestratus, is the largest species at 20 cm in total length; most other species do not exceed 6 cm.
Many threefin blennies are brightly coloured, often for reasons of camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
; these species are popular in the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
hobby. As demersal fish, threefin blennies spend most of their time on or near the bottom on coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
and rocks. The fish are typically found in shallow, clear waters with sun exposure, such as lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
s and seaward reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
s; nervous fish, they retreat to rock crevices at any perceived threat.
Threefin blennies are diurnal
Diurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
and territorial; many species exhibit sexual dichromatism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
, with the females drab compared to the males. The second dorsal fin is also extended in the males of some species. Small invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s comprise the bulk of the threefin blenny diet.
Genera
FishBase lists about 150 species in 30 genera:- AcanthanectesAcanthanectesAcanthanectes is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae. It contains two described species at present.-Species:* Acanthanectes hystrix Holleman & Buxton, 1993* Acanthanectes rufus Holleman & Buxton, 1993...
- ApopterygionApopterygionApopterygion is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae. It has two described species.-Species:* Tasseled triplefin, - Kuiter, 1986* Ocellate triplefin, - Fricke & Roberts, 1994...
- AxoclinusAxoclinusAxoclinus is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae. This genus has five described species.-Species:* Cocos triplefin, Axoclinus cocoensis Bussing, 1991* Panama triplefin, Axoclinus lucillae Fowler, 1944...
- BellapiscisBellapiscisBellapiscis is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Mottled twister, Bellapiscis lesleyae Hardy, 1987.* Twister, Bellapiscis medius ....
- Blennodon
- Brachynectes
- CeratobregmaCeratobregmaCeratobregma is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Spotted spiny-eye triplefin, Ceratobregma acanthops * Helen's Triplefin, Ceratobregma helenae Holleman, 1987...
- Cremnochorites
- Crocodilichthys
- Cryptichthys
- EnneanectesEnneanectesEnneanectes is a genus of triplefin fish in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Lofty triplefin, Enneanectes altivelis Rosenblatt, 1960* Blackedge triplefin, Enneanectes atrorus Rosenblatt, 1960...
- EnneapterygiusEnneapterygiusEnneapterygius is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Yellow triplefin, Enneapterygius abeli .* Highfin triplefin, Enneapterygius altipinnis Clark, 1980....
- ForsterygionForsterygionForsterygion is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Chatham deepwater triplefin, Forsterygion bathytaton Hardy, 1989* Yellow-and-black triplefin, Forsterygion flavonigrum Fricke & Roberts, 1994...
- GilloblenniusGilloblenniusGilloblennius is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Obscure triplefin, Gilloblennius abditus Hardy, 1986* Thripenny, Gilloblennius tripennis...
- GrahaminaGrahaminaGrahamina is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Spotted robust triplefin, Grahamina capito * Tasmanian robust triplefin, Grahamina gymnota...
- HelcogrammaHelcogrammaHelcogramma is a genus in the triplefin family , with 33 species.- Species :* Helcogramma albimacula Williams & Howe, 2003* Helcogramma aquilum Williams & McCormick, 1990* Helcogramma billi Hansen, 1986...
- HelcogrammoidesHelcogrammoidesHelcogrammoides is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Helcogrammoides antarcticus * Helcogrammoides chilensis * Cunningham's triplefin, Helcogrammoides cunninghami...
- Karalepis
- LepidoblenniusLepidoblenniusLepidoblennius is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Eastern jumping blenny, Lepidoblennius haplodactylus Steindachner, 1867* Western jumping blenny, Lepidoblennius marmoratus...
- LepidonectesLepidonectesLepidonectes is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Twinspot triplefin, Lepidonectes bimaculata Allen & Robertson, 1992* Signal triplefin, Lepidonectes clarkhubbsi Bussing, 1991...
- NorfolkiaNorfolkiaNorfolkia is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Redfin Triplefin, Norfolkia brachylepis * Leeuwin triplefin, Norfolkia leeuwin Fricke, 1994...
- NotoclinopsNotoclinopsNotoclinops is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Blue dot triplefin, Notoclinops caerulepunctus Hardy, 1989* Blue-eyed triplefin, Notoclinops segmentatus...
- NotoclinusNotoclinusNotoclinus is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Brown topknot, Notoclinus compressus * New Zealand topknot, Notoclinus fenestratus...
- Obliquichthys
- Ruanoho
- SpringerichthysSpringerichthysSpringerichthys is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Japanese blacktail triplefin, Springerichthys bapturus * Kulbicki's triplefin, Springerichthys kulbickii...
- Trianectes
- TrinorfolkiaTrinorfolkiaTrinorfolkia is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Clarke's triplefin, Trinorfolkia clarkei * Crested triplefin, Trinorfolkia cristata...
- TripterygionTripterygionTripterygion is a genus of triplefins in the family Tripterygiidae.-Species:* Tripterygion delaisi Cadenat & Blache, 1970 - Black-faced blenny* Tripterygion melanurus Guichenot, 1850...
- Ucla