Triplefin (Tripterygiidae)                                                                               back     home

The triplefin is a wonderful small fish to study and look at. They are found around all our coasts, and inhabit most tide pools, shallow bays and rocky reef areas.

The triplefin is one of the most poorly known family of fish in New Zealand because there is at least 20 species. Many of these species are not very well known mainly because they are hard to find. Personally I think I have seen quite a few because I tend to see them when taking macro photography.

A large number of these fish have distinctive colour patterns and are fairly well identified by divers within numerous clubs around the country. The triplefin family can be identified by having three dorsal fins, with the first and second often being partly joined.

One of these small fish the Spectacled triplefin   (Ruanoho whero) is quite often seen.

The triplefins are small carnivorous fish and generally eat small crabs and crustaceans.

Many triplefins species are territorial, and males defend territories, particularly during the spawning season. They are usually seen perched on their pectoral and pelvic fins. When they swim they move in small short bursts or hops.

Another one that I have encounted is the blue eyed triplefin . This one always seems to pout for some reason.

Both the males and females usually have similar colour patterns for much of the year, but during the spawning season males adopt distinctive colours.

Spawning usually takes place in the winter months.

Females lay eggs in clumps on the bottom, usually on a sloping rock surface.

Triplefins lay eggs in clumps on the bottom, usually on a sloping rock surface. Each of these clumps of eggs are guarded by the male against predators. The male fans the eggs with his fins to aerate them and prevent silt accumulating. When the eggs hatch the larvae are carried around with the currents before settling to the bottom again at a length of 1.5-2 cm (½").

Most triplefins only live for a short time, usually for about three years.

SPECTACELD TRIPLEFIN:  (Ruanoho whero)

This particular fish I think is absolutely wonderful, they seen to have a personality in the way they act and look.

This triplefin is found all around the coasts and inhabits rocky areas using rocks and small crevices for protection.

The females body and fins are a red brown colour with light blue oblique lines, with their eyes and the space between them being black. There are also several light blue lines circling the head and eyes. The male is black with grey patches on the dorsal fins, and white pelvic fins with white around the anal fin also.

They grow to a length of about 8cm (3").

The spectacled triplefins spawn in between June and November, and the young juveniles mature during their first year.

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BLUE-EYED TRIPLEFIN:  (Notoclinops segmentatus)

The blue eye triplefin is also found all around the coasts from North cape down to Stewart Island.

Found on reef areas generally under overhanging rocks and on steep sides of large boulders.

The blue eye female has a yellow orange coloured head, a silver body with 9 red bands circling the trunk and the eyes as the name implies are a iridescent blue. The males head and the front part of the body including the pectoral fins are orange, with black bands circling the rear half of the body. The anal fin and tail are also black.

This small fish eat small crustaceans, but according to Malcolm Francis book (Costal fishes of New Zealand) have also been seen cleaning parasites from large fishes such as moray eels.

They generally spawn in the spring between the months of August and November, and lay their eggs in crevices. The young fish mature at the end of their first year and would be at this time about 3 to 3.5cm (1") long.