236: TRIPTERYGIIDAE (THREEFIN BLENNIES)
Genus Cremnochorites Holleman, 1982
One species, known only from South Africa.
236.1 Cremnochorites capensis
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908)
Cape triplefin
Kaapse drievin
Tripterygium capense Gilchrist & Thompson 1908: 140 (False Bay). Gillias capensis: Barnard, 1927: 867; Smith, SFSA No. 1005. Cremnochorites
capense: Holleman, 1982: 131 *.
D IV +XIV-XV+ 10-11; A II,21-22; P 16; LL (21-24)+(22-23); lateral
scales 36-37; transverse scales 5/11. Head covered with small denticle-like
scales. Ring of "ctenii" around eye. Orbital tentacle branched.
Body irregularly barred and blotched in russets and
browns; males in breeding colours with bright yellow head.
Attains 80 mm. False Bay to Port Alfred in 5 - 20 m; taken
by trawl in 30 m in False Bay.
236.1 Cremnoehorites eapensis: 8 em SL male (Cape Point).
Genus Enneapterygius Ruppell, 1835
Some 30 species, 5 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a First D higher than 2nd .................................. . ....... E. pusillus
1 b First D lower than 2nd ......... , . .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. . .. .... .. ... . .. ... .. . .. .. .... 2
2a Row of black spots at base of A; distinct black preanal mark ....... 3
2b No row of black spots at base of A ........................................ 4
3a Dark bar across C peduncle; body with 4-5
conspicuous dark bars ............................... ... .. ......... E. clarkae
3b No bar across C peduncle; body irregularly
blotched ................................................ ..... E. ventermaculus
4a Hourglass-like mark across C peduncle ....................... E. elegans
4b No peduncular marks ................................................. E. abeli
236.2 Enneapterygius abeli
(Klausewitz, 1960)
Yellow triplefin
Geel drievin
Tripterygium abeli Klausewitz, 1960: 11, Figs. 1 & 2 (AI Ghardaqa, Red
Sea). Helcogramma abeli: Lal Mohan, 1971: 222. Enneapterygius abeli:
Clark, 1979: 97*.
D III+XI-XIII+8-1O; A 1,17-18; P 14-15; LL (12-14)+(20-22); lateral
scales 30-32; transverse scales 3/6. Head, nape and belly naked.
756
Bright yellow when alive; males with black head and
nape. Attains 25 mm. Widespread in Indian Ocean and Red
Sea, south to northern Natal.
236.2 Enneapterygius abeli: top: 2.5 em male holotype; bottom: 3 em female
paratype (both Natal).
236.3 Enneapterygius clarkae
Holleman, 1982
Barred triplefin
Balk-drievin
Enneapterygius n.sp.2 Clark, 1979: 104*. Enneapterygius clarkae Holleman, 1982: 121, Fig. 6 (Inhaca Id., Mozambique).
D III+XI-XII+8-1O; A 1,16-17; P 14-15; LL (11-12)+(20-22); lateral
scales 29-30; transverse scales 3/6. Head and nape naked, belly with thin
cycloid scales.
Attains 25 mm. Uncommon; Natal to Red Sea and central and western Indian Ocean.
236.3 Enneapterygius elarkae: 3 em male holotype (Inhaea Id.).
236.4 Enneapterygius elegans
(Peters, 1876)
PLATE 116
Hourglass triplefin
Uurglas-drievin
Tripterygium elegans Peters, 1876: 441 (Mauritius); Bleeker, 1879: 21;
Mo"bius, 1880: 39; Peters, 1883: 54.
D III+XII-XIII+8-1O; A 1,16-17; P 16; LL (16-18)+17; lateral scales
30; transverse scales 3
Genus Cremnochorites Holleman, 1982
One species, known only from South Africa.
236.1 Cremnochorites capensis
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908)
Cape triplefin
Kaapse drievin
Tripterygium capense Gilchrist & Thompson 1908: 140 (False Bay). Gillias capensis: Barnard, 1927: 867; Smith, SFSA No. 1005. Cremnochorites
capense: Holleman, 1982: 131 *.
D IV +XIV-XV+ 10-11; A II,21-22; P 16; LL (21-24)+(22-23); lateral
scales 36-37; transverse scales 5/11. Head covered with small denticle-like
scales. Ring of "ctenii" around eye. Orbital tentacle branched.
Body irregularly barred and blotched in russets and
browns; males in breeding colours with bright yellow head.
Attains 80 mm. False Bay to Port Alfred in 5 - 20 m; taken
by trawl in 30 m in False Bay.
236.1 Cremnoehorites eapensis: 8 em SL male (Cape Point).
Genus Enneapterygius Ruppell, 1835
Some 30 species, 5 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a First D higher than 2nd .................................. . ....... E. pusillus
1 b First D lower than 2nd ......... , . .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. . .. .... .. ... . .. ... .. . .. .. .... 2
2a Row of black spots at base of A; distinct black preanal mark ....... 3
2b No row of black spots at base of A ........................................ 4
3a Dark bar across C peduncle; body with 4-5
conspicuous dark bars ............................... ... .. ......... E. clarkae
3b No bar across C peduncle; body irregularly
blotched ................................................ ..... E. ventermaculus
4a Hourglass-like mark across C peduncle ....................... E. elegans
4b No peduncular marks ................................................. E. abeli
236.2 Enneapterygius abeli
(Klausewitz, 1960)
Yellow triplefin
Geel drievin
Tripterygium abeli Klausewitz, 1960: 11, Figs. 1 & 2 (AI Ghardaqa, Red
Sea). Helcogramma abeli: Lal Mohan, 1971: 222. Enneapterygius abeli:
Clark, 1979: 97*.
D III+XI-XIII+8-1O; A 1,17-18; P 14-15; LL (12-14)+(20-22); lateral
scales 30-32; transverse scales 3/6. Head, nape and belly naked.
756
Bright yellow when alive; males with black head and
nape. Attains 25 mm. Widespread in Indian Ocean and Red
Sea, south to northern Natal.
236.2 Enneapterygius abeli: top: 2.5 em male holotype; bottom: 3 em female
paratype (both Natal).
236.3 Enneapterygius clarkae
Holleman, 1982
Barred triplefin
Balk-drievin
Enneapterygius n.sp.2 Clark, 1979: 104*. Enneapterygius clarkae Holleman, 1982: 121, Fig. 6 (Inhaca Id., Mozambique).
D III+XI-XII+8-1O; A 1,16-17; P 14-15; LL (11-12)+(20-22); lateral
scales 29-30; transverse scales 3/6. Head and nape naked, belly with thin
cycloid scales.
Attains 25 mm. Uncommon; Natal to Red Sea and central and western Indian Ocean.
236.3 Enneapterygius elarkae: 3 em male holotype (Inhaea Id.).
236.4 Enneapterygius elegans
(Peters, 1876)
PLATE 116
Hourglass triplefin
Uurglas-drievin
Tripterygium elegans Peters, 1876: 441 (Mauritius); Bleeker, 1879: 21;
Mo"bius, 1880: 39; Peters, 1883: 54.
D III+XII-XIII+8-1O; A 1,16-17; P 16; LL (16-18)+17; lateral scales
30; transverse scales 3