Blackfin Triplefin

Male red with darker red, double red bars , black "mask" covering front and lower two-thirds of head, chest, and pectoral-fin base, narrow white bar at caudal-fin base, and basal two-thirds to three-fourths of caudal-fin black. Female translucent greenish grey with indistinct reddish blotches along back, middle of sides, and just above anal-fin base. Head, chest, and pectoral-fin base scaleless; short orbital tentacle present; mandibular pores 3-4 + 1 + 3-4. Maximum size to 3.5 cm TL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 10; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 16 - 19

Adults are found on seaward and lagoon reefs, usually less than 5 m (Ref. 90102). Eggs are hemispherical and covered with numerous sticky threads that anchor them in the algae on the nesting sites (Ref. 240). Larvae are planktonic which occur primarily in shallow, nearshore waters (Ref. 94114). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.