Common triplefin

Common triplefin
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Tripterygiidae
Genus: Forsterygion
Species:
F. lapillum
Binomial name
Forsterygion lapillum
Hardy, 1989

The common triplefin (Forsterygion lapillum) is a small blennioid fish of the family Tripterygiidae. It is one of 26 endemic species of triplefin found in New Zealand across 14 genera.[2] This species is very common in the temperate coastal and intertidal waters of New Zealand where it often lives in cobble habitats,[3][4][5] but has been found as deep as 30 m.[6] It has a maximum body length of around 70 mm and lives for up to three years.[7]

Common triplefins are generally opportunistic predators, eating mostly amphipods, ostracods, limpets, and polychaetes.[8] Males will aggressively defend their territory during the breeding season as well as guard eggs after they are laid by females, who contribute no parental care.[9]

  1. ^ Clements, K.D. (2014). "Forsterygion lapillum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T178904A1545966. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T178904A1545966.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Hickey, A. J. R.; Lavery, S. D.; Hannan, D. A.; Baker, C. S.; Clements, K. D. (2009). "New Zealand triplefin fishes (family Tripterygiidae): contrasting population structure and mtDNA diversity within a marine species flock". Molecular Ecology. 18 (4): 680–696. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2008.04052.x. ISSN 1365-294X. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  3. ^ Wellenreuther, M.; Syms, C.; Clements, K. D. (2008). "Consistent spatial patterns across biogeographic gradients in temperate reef fishes". Ecography. 31 (1): 84–94. doi:10.1111/j.2007.0906-7590.05270.x. ISSN 0906-7590.
  4. ^ Wellenreuther, M.; Clements, K. D. (2008). "Determinants of habitat association in a sympatric clade of marine fishes". Marine Biology. 154 (2): 393–402. doi:10.1007/s00227-008-0940-0. ISSN 0025-3162.
  5. ^ Willis, T. J. (2001). "Visual census methods underestimate density and diversity of cryptic reef fishes". Journal of Fish Biology. 59 (5): 1408–1411. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00202.x. ISSN 0022-1112.
  6. ^ Jawad, L. A. (2008). "Second revision of the New Zealand triplefin genus Forsterygion Whitley and Phillips, 1939 (Pisces: Tripterygiidae)". Journal of Natural History. 42 (47–48): 2943–2989. doi:10.1080/00222930802256842. ISSN 0022-2933.
  7. ^ Fricke, Ronald (1994). Tripterygiid fishes of Australia, New Zealand and the Southwest Pacific Ocean: with descriptions of 2 new genera and 16 new species (Teleostei). Theses zoologicae. Champaign, Ill: Koeltz Scientific Books. ISBN 978-3-87429-370-9.
  8. ^ Feary, D. A.; Wellenreuther, M.; Clements, K. D. (2009). "Trophic ecology of New Zealand triplefin fishes (Family Tripterygiidae)". Marine Biology. 156 (8): 1703–1714. doi:10.1007/s00227-009-1205-2. ISSN 0025-3162.
  9. ^ Moginie, B. (2016). Going all the way: The implications of life history and phenotype on reproductive success of the common triplefin, Forsterygion lapillum (Thesis). Open Access Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington. doi:10.26686/wgtn.17019293.v1. Retrieved 2024-09-06.