Enneapterygius sheni Chiang & Chen 2008

This species is distinguished from its congeners in having the following characters: D1 III, D2 XII, D3 9; A I,17; lateral line discontinuous, first series with 16-18 pored scales, second series 16-18 notched scales; mandibular pore system 4+1+4; supraorbital cirrus simple and broad; nasal cirrus simple and slender; first dorsal fin is equal to or higher than second; in males, head with a black mask, D1 and D2 and anal fins are entirely blackish; D2 with 4 black blotches and anal fin with 8-9 basal blackish-brown streaks in female; grayish-black opercle; caudal peduncle with a black streak (Ref. 79877).

Dorsal spines (total): 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 17; Vertebrae: 34

Female members of the Tripterygiidae have eggs that 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).