Small Triplefin Blenny
Tripterygion melanurum
Diagnostic description 4
Body permanently red in color, females and non-territorial males with marbled head; in territorial males black; slightly dark, vertical bars, often white spots and bars along back (Ref. 4785). Territorial males with prolonged rays in second dorsal (Ref. 4785).
Distribution 5
Mediterranean Sea endemic.
Distribution 6
Mediterranean Sea: Balearic Islands (Spain), southern Sardinia, Algeria, Tunisia, Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus, and southern Turkey.
Habitat and ecology 7
Habitat and Ecology
A demersal species that inhabits dimly-lit areas, clinging to walls or ceilings (Zander 1986). It feeds on small invertebrates, especially harpacticoids (Zander 1986). Several females lay eggs on substrate of males' territory, often on sponges, eggs are guarded by the male (Zander 1986).
Systems
- Marine
Sources and Credits
- (c) Satu T. & Markus R., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/122615811@N02/13874848125/
- (c) Alberto Romeo. albertoromeo@neomedia.it. http://www.romeofotosub.it, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Capo_Gallo_Tripterygion_melanurus.jpg
- (c) Roberto Pillon (Fishbase), some rights reserved (CC BY), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Tripterygion_melanurus.jpg
- (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20943233
- (c) FishWise Professional, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/8585525
- (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20943235
- (c) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28360136
