Red Triplefin

Dorsal fins III + XII-XIV + 10-12 (usually III + XIII + 10-11); anal fin I, 19-21 (usually 20); pectoral fins usually 15-17 (usually 16: 2, 7, 7). Lateral line continuous, tubed scales 21-27, ending below anterior part of third dorsal fin; total lateral scales 38-40 (37-41, from Clark). Nape, belly, and bases of first dorsal and anal fins scaleless; caudal fin with 1 or 2 rows of scales at base. Pelvic-fin rays bound together by membrane for half the length of shorter ray, longer ray reaches vent. First dorsal fin, triangular, originates over posterior margin of preopercle, in males first spine about as long as longest spine of second dorsal fin, but shorter in females; first two spines close to each other. Mouth large; maxilla reaches vertical through posterior border of pupil; orbital cirrus very small; dentary pores 3 + 1 + 3; head length 3.0-3.5 in SL (Ref. 88983). Description: Overall reddish with iridescent blue stripe on head below eye, and sprinkled with pigments below the stripe. Female head mottled with brown, white and iridescent yellow. Body with three yellowish vertical bars on posterior part and 7 brown blotches (in males) or bars (in females) alternating with white spots along midline from pectoral fin to caudal peduncle; caudal peduncle encircled with a brown bar (in males). Dorsal fins reddish specially at the base, 1st dorsal in males red generally and dusky distally, in females yellow anteriorly; 2nd and 3rd dorsal yellowish distally in males, dusky in females; pectoral fin base with two spots, iridescent blue in males but brown in females along with three yellow stripes; pelvic fin white in males, dusky in females; anal fin black in males, translucent with dusky margin in females (52308).

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 19 - 21; Vertebrae: 35 - 36

Found usually solitary on corals and rocks in lagoons and bays from 0.5-12 m or deeper (Ref. 88983).

Found usually solitary on corals and rocks in lagoons and bays from 0.5-12 m or deeper (Ref. 88983).

Helcogramma steinitzi, known commonly as the red triplefin, is a species of triplefin blenny in the genus Helcogramma. It was described by Eugenie Clark in 1980. The specific name honours the marine biologist and herpetologist Heinz Steinitz (1909-1971) of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. This species occurs in the north western Indian Ocean from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf.