Tropical Striped Triplefin
Helcogramma striata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Blenniiformes
- Family
- Tripterygiidae
- Genus
- Helcogramma
- Species
- Helcogramma striata
The tropical striped triplefin (Helcogramma striata) is a tiny, blenny-like fish with orange, white and dark stripes running along its body and three separate dorsal fins, typical of triplefins.
It grows to about 4-5 cm and perches on corals, sponges and rocks, often in small groups. It feeds on tiny crustaceans and plankton and darts between perches in quick hops.
The tropical striped triplefin is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common sight on coral heads and sponges on shallow reefs.