Family TRIPTERYGIIDAE

Enneapterygius tutuliae, from Escape Reef

© Copyright D.F. Hoese

Helcogramma decurrens

© Copyright from Waite 1921

Lepidoblennius marmoratus

© Copyright from Waite 1921

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Introduction

Members of the Tripterygiidae occur in tropical and temperate regions of the world. The family name is descriptive of the separation of the dorsal fin into three distinct segments. Currently, 26 genera and 138 species are recognised (Fricke 1997), with 13 genera and 42 species known from Australia and one additional species is included from the Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) island group.

Triplefins are commonly found on coral or rocky reefs, in depths of 1 to over 60 m. They are small sized, varying as adults from 2.5 to 25 cm, and are sometimes sexually dimorphic in colouration.

The Tripterygiidae were defined by Springer (1993). Fricke (1994, 1997) revised the Australian species and Gomon et al. (2008) treated the temperate Australian tripterygiids.

General References

Fricke, R 1997. Tripterygiid fishes of the western and central Pacific, with descriptions of 15 new species, including an annotated checklist of world Tripterygiidae (Teleostei). Theses Zoologicae 29: 1-607 figs 1-110

Fricke, R. 1994. Tripterygiid fishes of Australia, New Zealand and the Southwest Pacific Ocean, with descriptions of 2 new genera and 16 species (Teleostei). Theses Zoologicae 24: 1-585 figs 1-130

Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Tripterygiidae. pp. 684-693 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Hoese, D.F. 2006. Families Tripterygiidae and Clinidae. pp. 1517-1539 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp.

Springer, V.G. 1993. Definition of the suborder Blennioidei and its included families (Pisces: Perciformes). Bulletin of Marine Science 52(2): 472-495

Waite, E.R. 1921. Illustrated catalogue of the fishes of South Australia. Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide) 2(1): 1-208 293 figs pl. 1 [figs 250-251]

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. & Steene, R.C. 1988. Fishes of Christmas Island Indian Ocean. Christmas Island : Christmas Island Natural History Association 197 pp. [131] (Triplefins)

Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [731] (Threefins)

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