Triplefins

No information was found on communication in Tripterygiidae, except regarding courtship displays by males (see Reproduction: Mating Systems).

Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Triplefin blennies avoid predators by attempting to remain unnoticed. They are small, occupy hiding places in the reef, and are cryptically colored or partially transparent.

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

Triplefin blennies are cryptically colored or transparent, heavily scaled, and small. Most are only 3-4 cm, the largest reaching 25 cm. In triplefin blennies the dorsal fin is divided into three distinct parts. The first two segments are composed of numerous slender spines, and the third segment is made up of at least seven soft rays. There are between zero and two anal fin spines. Scales are usually, but not universally, ctenoid (rough-edged or toothed). The nape lacks cirri, and the first gill arch attaches to the operculum, the latter characteristic distinguishing Tripterygiidae from Clinidae. Sexual dimorphism is common, with males assuming black or red coloration on the head, body, or caudal fin during spawning. Urogenital (involving both the urinary and genital structures) morphology may also differ between males and females. Gray and brown are typical colors on females and nonspawning males. (Click here to see a fish diagram).

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: male more colorful; sexes shaped differently

No information was found regarding the lifespan of Tripterygiidae.

Primarily benthic reef-dwellers in tropical and warm temperate seas, triplefin blennies commonly live near reef surfaces, rocky slopes, rubble, or algae-covered rocks. Depth and habitat can vary according to specific local adaptations. One species can sometimes be found in estuaries.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; saltwater or marine

Aquatic Biomes: benthic ; reef ; brackish water

Other Habitat Features: estuarine ; intertidal or littoral

Triplefin blennies are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and one species has been identified in the Antarctic Peninsula. There are five species known to be from the Bahamas, all of which are located in the Bahamas. Blennies are generally not found on most of the Atlantic coasts of Africa and South America. New Zealand is thought to be the area with greatest diversity of triplefin blennies.

Biogeographic Regions: indian ocean (Native ); atlantic ocean (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )

Triplefin blennies feed on algae and tiny invertebrates.

Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats non-insect arthropods); herbivore ; omnivore ; planktivore

Triplefin blennies have in many cases adapted to specialized local conditions, so they may occupy otherwise unfilled roles in certain areas. They feed on and thereby impact populations of small invertebrates, and likewise may affect algal growth.

Some triplefin blennies are kept in aquaria, but none are considered sport or food fishes.

Positive Impacts: pet trade

No specific information was found concerning any negative impacts to humans.

Tripterygiids (triplefin blennies) are one of the least-studied blennies, but they are known to be cryptic, territorial reef dwellers identifiable by their three distinct dorsal fins and ctenoid (rough-edged) scales. There are some undescribed forms among the Tripterygiidae, but there are thought to be at least 20 genera and 150 species in the family.

Sticky threads anchor the eggs of triplefin blennies to algae in the nest site. After hatching, larvae in species of Tripterygion settle after approximately 40 days. One study indicates that larvae are affected by auditory cues (reef sounds) in determining where to settle.

Currently, there is no known conservation threat to any member of this family.

Male triplefin blennies establish territories on rocks covered with algae. From this vantage point they signal to passing females by “loop-swimming,” a courtship motion that varies from species to species, but entails quickly hopping up and down in a loop. Males of species in Axoclinus pose before loop-swimming, resting on their pelvic fins and waving the caudal fin, which gives the female a better chance to view his courtship colors. One male may spawn with several females.

Mating System: polygynous

Definitive information about spawning seasons of triplefin blennies is lacking, but spawning likely occurs year-round in the tropics and during warmer seasons in temperate areas. In order to spawn the male first cleans the algal filaments at the nest site, and then attracts one or more females to the nest. Spawning can last up to several hours. Eggs are deposited by the female one at a time and fertilized simultaneously by the male, with clutch sizes sometimes reaching 500 eggs. “Streaking” occurs in some species of Tripterygion and Axoclinus: smaller, most likely younger, cryptically-colored males rush in while the dominant male is engaged in spawning, releasing their own sperm in an attempt to fertilize some of the eggs.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous

Male triplefin blennies remain near the eggs to guard them until they hatch.

Triplefins are tiny blenny-like fishes that skate around over rocks and coral heads on reefs everywhere in the Caribbean. Although a couple of species occur on deeper reefs and walls, most triplefins can be found in shallow water, often on rocks and pilings just below the surface of the water. There is a single Atlantic genus, Enneanectes, presently with eight species, some of which are difficult to distinguish underwater. Prior to 2013, five species were known from the region, but identifications were difficult based on the keys available. In 2013, three new species were described, with the assistance of DNA-barcoding, and a revised key developed. Triplefins on the reef are identified to species mostly by scale patterns and markings, i.e. characters developing after settlement and inapplicable to larvae. Some species are wide ranging, although several have restricted distributions within the Caribbean region. Triplefin larvae share most features and, since there is some overlap in fin-ray counts, it is likely that DNA-sequencing is necessary for most species identifications. Nevertheless, modal fin-ray counts do differ and some larvae from known locations may be narrowed down to one or two candidate species by meristics alone.

Larval tripterygiids resemble the very common small labrisomid larvae, but they differ from all other families by having prominent melanophores on the upper caudal peduncle and three separate dorsal fins. They can be characterized by their pointed snout, long dorsal and anal fins with flexible spines (dorsal fin divided), a short and narrow caudal peduncle, long strand-like pelvic fins, the absence of spines on the head, and light markings (basically a row of melanophores along the anal fin base and along the dorsal midline of the caudal peduncle). Larval tripterygiids have large round eyes, in contrast to many labrids, scarids, and gobies, in which the eye can be small or narrowed.

Threefin or triplefin blennies are blenniiforms, small percomorph marine fish of the family Tripterygiidae. Found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, the family contains about 150 species in 30 genera. The family name derives from the Greek tripteros meaning "with three wings".

With an elongated, 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 lagoons and seaward reefs; 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 invertebrates comprise the bulk of the threefin blenny diet.