Maldives Triplefin

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.

Description

Males are overall reddish with bluish dots and streaks on head, forming stripes anteriorly on body, ventrally light grey, fins pigmented. Females are paler, without spots and stripes, ventrally white, fins transluscent. Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 17 - 21; Vertebrae: 35 - 36. 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.

Distribution

Western Indian Ocean: presently endemic to the Maldives.