236: TRIPTERYGIIDAE (THREEFIN BLENNIES)
235.41 235.41 Xiphasia malsubarai: 24.5 em female (after Smith-Vaniz. 1976).
235.42 Xiphasia setifer: 29 em SL female (after Smith-Vaniz. 1976); head to show teeth.
Front part of A white distally. Attains 30 cm SL. Western
Indian Ocean to Japan, Mariana and Ellice islands; south to
False Bay, Cape.
Snakeblenny
235.42 Xiphasia setiter
Swainson, 1839
PLATE 115
Siangbiennie
Xiphasia setifer Swainson, 1839: 259 (Visagapatam, India); Smith,
SFSA No. 964*; 1959: 236*; Penrith & Penrith, 1972: 84*; Smith-Vaniz,
1976: 70'.
D XIII-XIV,105-119; A II, 107-119; P 12-14; V 1,3. Front of A not white
distally.
Attains 53 cm SL. Red Sea and Indian Ocean to Japan
and New Hebrides; south to False Bay.
Family No. 236: TRIPTERYGIIDAE
byW. Holleman
Threefin blennies
Drievin-blennies
Small, cryptically coloured benthic fishes. Dorsal fin in 3
parts: 1st of3 or 4 spines; 2nd of 8-16 spines; 3rd of 8-12 segmented rays, last ray usually divided to its base. Pelvic fin
with 2 rays and 1 short, hidden spine. Principal caudal rays
13, branched rays 11. Band of conical teeth in each jaw.
Scales ctenoid, covering body (except belly) in all species;
head and belly scaly in some species. Lateral line either a
single row of pored scales, or divided into an anterior portion of pored scales and a posterior portion of notched
scales (count then given as x + y). Lateral scales counted as
continuation of lateral line to base of caudal fin for single
lateral line species, or as forward continuation of notched
(posterior) portion of lateral line to pectoral fin base in
those species with an interrupted lateral line. Transverse
scales counted diagonally down and back from 1st spine of
2nd dorsal fin.
Most species attain 30-50 mm. Intertidal to 30 m. Cosmopolitan family occurring in all tropical and temperate
regions, most abundant in warm waters. Taxonomy
requires much work, and there are several undescribed
species. About 16 genera and probably in excess of 130
species. Four genera with a total of 9 species in our area.
KEY TO GENERA
1a Three spines in 1st D, 1 in A .......................... ...................... 2
1b Four spines in 1st D, 2 in A ............................. .. ..... .. .... ....... 3
2a LL a single row of pored scales ending below 2nd
D .................................................................. Helcogramma
2b LL interrupted, front part of pored scales ending
below 2nd D, rear part of notched scales Yz - 2 scale
rows below end of front section and continuing
to C base ....................................................... Enneapterygius
3a Orbital tentacle branched; ring of scales or
scale-like spines around edge of eye; palatine
teeth present ................................................. Cremnochorites
3b Orbital tentacle a simple flap; no ring of scales
around edge of eye; palatine teeth absent .................... Norfolkia
755
235.41 235.41 Xiphasia malsubarai: 24.5 em female (after Smith-Vaniz. 1976).
235.42 Xiphasia setifer: 29 em SL female (after Smith-Vaniz. 1976); head to show teeth.
Front part of A white distally. Attains 30 cm SL. Western
Indian Ocean to Japan, Mariana and Ellice islands; south to
False Bay, Cape.
Snakeblenny
235.42 Xiphasia setiter
Swainson, 1839
PLATE 115
Siangbiennie
Xiphasia setifer Swainson, 1839: 259 (Visagapatam, India); Smith,
SFSA No. 964*; 1959: 236*; Penrith & Penrith, 1972: 84*; Smith-Vaniz,
1976: 70'.
D XIII-XIV,105-119; A II, 107-119; P 12-14; V 1,3. Front of A not white
distally.
Attains 53 cm SL. Red Sea and Indian Ocean to Japan
and New Hebrides; south to False Bay.
Family No. 236: TRIPTERYGIIDAE
byW. Holleman
Threefin blennies
Drievin-blennies
Small, cryptically coloured benthic fishes. Dorsal fin in 3
parts: 1st of3 or 4 spines; 2nd of 8-16 spines; 3rd of 8-12 segmented rays, last ray usually divided to its base. Pelvic fin
with 2 rays and 1 short, hidden spine. Principal caudal rays
13, branched rays 11. Band of conical teeth in each jaw.
Scales ctenoid, covering body (except belly) in all species;
head and belly scaly in some species. Lateral line either a
single row of pored scales, or divided into an anterior portion of pored scales and a posterior portion of notched
scales (count then given as x + y). Lateral scales counted as
continuation of lateral line to base of caudal fin for single
lateral line species, or as forward continuation of notched
(posterior) portion of lateral line to pectoral fin base in
those species with an interrupted lateral line. Transverse
scales counted diagonally down and back from 1st spine of
2nd dorsal fin.
Most species attain 30-50 mm. Intertidal to 30 m. Cosmopolitan family occurring in all tropical and temperate
regions, most abundant in warm waters. Taxonomy
requires much work, and there are several undescribed
species. About 16 genera and probably in excess of 130
species. Four genera with a total of 9 species in our area.
KEY TO GENERA
1a Three spines in 1st D, 1 in A .......................... ...................... 2
1b Four spines in 1st D, 2 in A ............................. .. ..... .. .... ....... 3
2a LL a single row of pored scales ending below 2nd
D .................................................................. Helcogramma
2b LL interrupted, front part of pored scales ending
below 2nd D, rear part of notched scales Yz - 2 scale
rows below end of front section and continuing
to C base ....................................................... Enneapterygius
3a Orbital tentacle branched; ring of scales or
scale-like spines around edge of eye; palatine
teeth present ................................................. Cremnochorites
3b Orbital tentacle a simple flap; no ring of scales
around edge of eye; palatine teeth absent .................... Norfolkia
755