Triplefin Family – Tripterygiidae

There are currently five members of the Triplefin or Tripterygiidae Family, all from the Pacific Ocean, presented in this website:

FROM THE PACIFIC (5):

The Triplefin or Tripterygiidae Family, known as tres aletas in Mexico, is a group of small-sized fish that are typically between 3 cm (1.2 inches) and 5 cm (2.0 inches) in length with the largest one reaching 25 cm (9.8 inches). There are one hundred forty-five global members in the family that have been placed in 30 genera. There are nine Triplefins found in Mexican waters, two in the Atlantic and seven in the Pacific Ocean.

The Triplefins have elongated bodies that taper toward the tail. They have robust pointed heads with cirri at the nostrils and over the eyes. The top jaw of their mouth is protractile and both jaws have a wide band of conical teeth. Their anal fins have 0 to 2 spines and a long base; their caudal fin has 13 rays; their first dorsal fin has 3 or 4 spines; their second dorsal fin has 8 to 19 spines; their third dorsal fin has 8 to 12 rays; and, their pelvic fins have 1 spine and 2 rays and are before the pectoral fin base. Their bodies are covered with rough scales.

The Triplefins are common but seldom seen inhabitants of temperate and tropical reefs. They live obscure lives in shallow coastal waters, normally out of the surge zone. They are cryptically covered which allows them to blend into their surroundings. They are found in weedy areas, on algal covered rocks, and on rubble. They consume algae and small invertebrates that reside within the algae. They utilize cryptic coloration to avoid predation. They are normally gray or brown in color. They are sexually dimorphic with males having black or red colorations on the head, body and caudal fin when spawning. Reproduction is oviparous and polygynandrous and has not been studied extensively. Males prepare a nest site and then attract one or more females to the site. Each female deposits up to 500 eggs, one at a time, which are simultaneously fertilized by the males. The eggs are sticky and adhere to the algae within the nest site. The males remain on the nests and guard the eggs until they hatch. The larvae are pelagic and settle in 40 days.

From a conservation perspective the Triplefins have not been formally evaluated. They are prone to habitat loss, including mangroves, from coastal development. They are seldom seen by humans and are poorly studied and very little is known about their behavioral patterns. They are utilized by the aquarium trade at a small level.