Author: Guichenot, 1845
Tripterygion melanurus Guichenot, 1845
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Tripterygion melanurus Guichenot, 1850 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis. dorsal finrays III + XIV-XVI + 10-13; anal finrays 11 + 22-25. Colour: body permanently red, head in females and nonterritorial males marbled; in territorial males black; slightly dark, vertical bars, often white spots and bars along back. Territorial males with prolonged rays in second dorsal fin. Size: males to 53 mm, females to 45 mm.
Habitat: characteristic inhabitants of sea caves and other dimly lit biotopes, clinging to walls or ceilings of caves. Behaviour: males court by figure-8-swimming upward into water. Food small invertebrates, especially harpacticoids. Reproduction: May July (northern Mediterranean). Eggs are laid by several females on substrate in males' territory, often on sponges; male guards the eggs.
Distribution: Mediterranean.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.
Subspecies
Tripterygion melanurus melanurus. dark spot on caudal peduncle; Balearic Is., southern Sardinia, Algeria, Tunisia, Israel, Lebanon Cyprus, southern Turkey.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.
Tripterygion melanurus minor. no dark spot on caudal peduncle; France, Tyrrhenian Sea, eastern Sicily, Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.
Hybrid populations off northern Sicily, Marmaris and Rhodes.