Animalia Life

Enneapterygius mirabilis
FAMILY
Tripterygiidae
TAXONOMY
Enneapterygius mirabilis Fricke, 1994, Escape Reef, Australia.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
None known.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
May reach lengths of 1.2 in (30 mm). Distinguished from other Enneapterygius species by having 12 or fewer tubed scales in the anterior portion of the lateral line and by its long, filamentous spines in the first dorsal fin.
DISTRIBUTION
Known from Papua New Guinea, northern Queensland, Australia, and Vanuatu.
HABITAT
Has been found at depths of 26–121 ft (8–37 m) on coral reefs and adjacent reef slopes.
BEHAVIOR
The miracle triplefin, like so many of the blennioids, has yet to be observed alive underwater. It has been seen and collected only after the application of rotenone, without which this magnificent blenny’s existence would be unknown.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
The diet is unknown, but the presence of small, sharp, conical teeth in the jaws suggests that the miracle triplefin feeds on small benthic invertebrates.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Oviparous, based on the presence of mature ova in females, but breeding individuals have not been observed, and young are unknown.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Not currently used by humans, but its red color and high first dorsal fin make it an attractive species.

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