Helcogramma maldivensis Fricke & Randall 1992

Diagnosis: Dorsal fin III + XIII+ 10, 2nd fin twice height of 1st; anal fin I + 16-18; pectoral rays 15 (3+6+6); pelvic fin I, 2, spine short and hidden, segmented rays simple, partially united by membrane. Vertebrae 10 + 25-26. LL total lateral scales 36-38; tubed 13-21 (16-17) scales, ends below 3rd dorsal fin; nape, belly, 1st dorsal fin and anterior anal-fin base scaleless, caudal-fin base with 2 rows of scales. Mandibular pores 3+2-1+3. Labial folds and orbital cirrus absent. Head length 3.4 in SL; eye 2.4, maxilla 2.3 in HL. Males overall reddish with bluish dots and streaks on head, forming stripes anteriorly on body, ventrally light grey, fins pigmented; females paler, without spots and stripes, ventrally white, fins transluscent (Ref. 75031).

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 17 - 21; Vertebrae: 35 - 36

Inhabits outer surge zones of reefs, reef flats and lagoons; found under alrge rocks, coral heads, and overhanging corals (Ref. 75031).

Eggs are hemispherical and covered with numerous sticky threads that anchor them in the algae on the nesting sites (Ref. 240). Larvae are planktonic which occur primarily in shallow, nearshore waters (Ref. 94114).

Helcogramma maldivensis is a species of triplefin blenny in the genus Helcogramma. It was described by Ronald Fricke and John E. Randall in 1992. This species has only been recorded from South Male Atoll in the Maldives where the only known specimens were found in a shallow lagoon with a maximum depth of 5 metres (16 ft) and a sandy bottom.