The spectacled triplefin (Ruanoho whero) is a triplefin in the genus Ruanoho. It is commonly found around New Zealand from depths of a few metres to about 30 m, most common in reef areas of broken rock. Its length is between 4 and 8 cm and its head is flattened with large eyes surrounded by a dark band giving rise to its common name. The head and fins have a pattern of fine blue lines. Its large pectoral fins are used as props when resting on the bottom where it spends most of its time.
| Spectacled triplefin | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Tripterygiidae |
| Genus: | Ruanoho |
| Species: | R. whero
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| Binomial name | |
| Ruanoho whero | |
In the breeding season in winter and spring the males become darker, with a blue/black head and black first dorsal fin, and dark bars on the body.
The specific name is a Māori word meaning "red", a reference to the diagonal reddish striping on its body.[3]
References edit
- ^ Clements, K.D. (2014). "Ruanoho whero". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T189752A1935999. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T189752A1935999.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Ruanoho whero" in FishBase. April 2019 version.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf; Kenneth J. Lazara (29 January 2019). "Order BLENNIIFORMES: Families TRIPTERYGIIDAE and DACTYLOSCOPIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8