Rotuma Triplefin

A species of Helcogramma (sensu Hansen, 1986) with 1-2 symphysial mandibular sensory pores, second dorsal fin spines XIII (two of 26 specimens with XIV), third dorsal fin segmented rays 10-12, last ribs on vertebral centrum 11, vertebrae modally 11+26=37 (value range: 11+25 to 27=36 to 38), pored lateral line scales modally 25 (value range: 23-29), nape scales absent, males with dorsal, caudal and anal fins dark.

Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 113; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 19 - 21; Vertebrae: 36 - 38

Adults inhabit exposed rocky and coralline boulders of coasts (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.

Helcogramma nigra, the Rotuma triplefin, is a species of triplefin blenny in the genus Helcogramma. It was described by Jeffrey T. Williams and Jeffrey C. Howe in 2003. This species occurs in the western central Pacific Ocean where it has been recorded from Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Rotuma.