Common Triplefin
Forsterygion lapillum
- Class
- Ray-finned fish
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 1,464
- Most observed in
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The common triplefin (Forsterygion lapillum) is a small blennioid fish of the family Tripterygiidae. It is one of 26 endemic species of triplefin found in New Zealand across 14 genera. This species is very common in the temperate coastal and intertidal waters of New Zealand where it often lives in cobble habitats, but has been found as deep as 30 m. It has a maximum body length of around 70 mm and lives for up to three years. Common triplefins are generally opportunistic predators, eating mostly amphipods, ostracods, limpets, and polychaetes. Males will aggressively defend their territory during the breeding season as well as guard eggs after they are laid by females, who contribute no parental care.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Common triplefin”.