Tropical striped triplefin

Tropical striped triplefin
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Blennioidei
Family: Tripterygiidae
Genus: Helcogramma
Species: H. striata
Binomial name
Helcogramma striata
Hansen, 1986

Helcogramma striatum, commonly called the tropical striped triplefin, the striped threefin or the neon triplefin, is a triplefin blenny of the genus Helcogramma, native from the central Indo-Pacific.

Description

The tropical striped triplefin is a small fish that can reach a maximum length of 4 cm.[2][3] The body is thin, more or less cylindrical section and relatively elongated, its mouth is terminal.

The ventral side of this fish is whitish. The rest of its body is red with white stripes running the length of its body and it has also white spots between the eyes.

The fins are translucent. its eyes are relatively large and the iris is orange.

Distribution & habitat

The tropical striped triplefin is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the central Indo-Pacific, from the eastern coast of India, Sri Lanka included, to the Philippines and from south Japan to Solomon Islands.[4]

This triplefin occurs in clear waters with moderate current from the surface down to 30 meters depth.[5][6] It is normally found perched on coral or other hard surfaces where it watches for drifting food.[7]

Biology

The tropical striped triplefin lives in small group and feeds on zooplankton.[8]

Conservation status

The species is targeted but not thought to be threatened by the aquarium trade. It is listed as Least Concern (LC) on the UICN.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Fricke, R. 2010. Helcogramma striata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Lieske & Myers,Guide des poissons des récifs coralliens,Delachaux & Niestlé,2009, ISBN 9782603016749
  3. ↑ Hansen, P.E.H., 1986. Revision of the tripterygiid fish genus Helcogramma, including descriptions of four new species. Bull. Mar. Sci. 38(2):313-354.
  4. ↑ Fricke, R. 2010. Helcogramma striata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 September 2015.
  5. ↑ Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 2. Fusiliers - Dragonets, Caesionidae - Callionymidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 304-622 p.
  6. ↑ Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann, 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth, Australia: Universitiy of Hawai'i Press, Volumes I-III. Tropical Reef Research.
  7. ↑ Lieske & Myers,Coral reef fishes,Princeton University Press, 2009, ISBN 9780691089959
  8. ↑ Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 2. Fusiliers - Dragonets, Caesionidae - Callionymidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 304-622 p.
  9. ↑ Fricke, R. 2010. Helcogramma striata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 September 2015.
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