Common Triplefin

First dorsal fin spines V-VIII; second dorsal fin spines XIX-XXIII; third dorsal fin rays 11-14.Discontinuous lateral line tubular scales 19-24, notched scales 14-24. Total vertebral number 43-45. Snout profile steep (70-75°). Preoperculo-mandibular canal with 7 pores, 3 at lower corner of preopercular, 3 at tip of upper jaw and 1 at lower jaw symphysis. Scale rows between anterior end of second dorsal fin and lateral line, 5-6. Scales between second and third dorsal fins, 4. Scales around caudal peduncle 12-13. Radii in scales from area below lateral line and under pectoral fin, 8-11. Long ctenii in scales from above and below lateral line in caudal peduncle area. Lateral line canal constricted with W-shaped anterior and posterior openings. Short denticles on interradial circuli. Post-temporal partially exposed. Pterygiophore supporting first segmented ray of third dorsal fin anterior to 24th vertebra. Dorsal fin formula V-0N-0-1-0-1. Ventral edge of lower caudal plate straight. Short neural spine of second preural vertebra. Epurals of different length. Soft rays in caudal fin, 14; 2 unbranched and 5 branched (non multibranched) rays in upper and lower caudal lobes. Procurrent rays in upper caudal lobe, 10; eight in lower lobe, 8; in upper lobe, 2 procurrent rays between upper lobe and posterior epural, 4 rays opposite epurals , 1 between neural spine of second preural vertebra and neural spine of third vertebra, 1 opposite neural spine of third preural vertebra and 2 anterior to neural spine of third vertebra; in lower lobe, one procurrent ray between lower lobeand haemal spine of second preural vertebra, 5 rays opposite haemal spine of second preural vertebra, 1 between haemal spines of second and third preural vertebrae, 1 ray opposite neural spine of third preural vertebra. Rounded posterior end. Short, pointed rostrum. Broad antristrum. Excisura shallow (Ref. 84085).

Dorsal spines (total): 24 - 31; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 14; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 23 - 27; Vertebrae: 40 - 45

Commonly found in intertidal rock pools, particularly those with adequate rocky or algal shelter. Feeds mainly on amphipods, isopods, and polychaetes.

Adults are most common in shallow water (0-5m), although recorded from depths of 30 m (Ref. 84085). They are commonly found in intertidal rock pools, particularly those with adequate rocky or algal shelter. They feed mainly on amphipods, isopods, and polychaetes (Ref. 13227). 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).

fisheries: of no interest

The common triplefin, Forsterygion lapillum, is a fish of the genus Forsterygion, found around the coast of New Zealand down to depths of about 15 m. Its length is between 4 and 8 cm. It is commonly found in intertidal rock pools. It can also be found in water as deep as 30m, feeding primarily on crustaceans and polychaetes.