Helcogramma microstigma Holleman 2006

Diagnosis: Dorsal fin III + XIII+ 10-11, first fin tall; anal fin I + 18-20; pectoral rays 15 (3+6+6); pelvic fin I, 2, spine short and hidden, segmented rays simple, partially united by membrane. Vertebrae 11 + 23-25. LL total lateral scales 37-38; tubed 24-30, ends below 3rd dorsal fin; transverse 9/7; nape, belly, and anterior of 1st dorsal fin base scaleless, caudal-fin base with 2-3 rows of scales. Mandibular pores 4+1+4. Lower labial folds narrow; upper lip inner margin crenulated. Orbital cirrus simple and pointed. Head length 3.4 in SL; eye 2.9, maxilla 2.2 in HL. Overall dark pink, with 3 orange spots at 2nd dorsal-fin base, and pink spots along midline and anal-fin base. Males masked black below eye. Females unmasked head; caudal peduncle with dark bar (Ref. 75031).

Dorsal spines (total): 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 18 - 20; Vertebrae: 34 - 36

Female members of the Tripterygiidae have eggs that 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 microstigma is a species of triplefin blenny in the genus Helcogramma. It was described by Wouter Holleman in 2006. This species occurs in the western Indian Ocean off Mozambique, Comoro Islands and Madagascar.