PORT PHILLIP BAY


Clark's Threefin 

Trinorfolkia clarkei (Morton, 1888)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: III-IV; XI-XVI; 7-12
Anal fin spines/rays: II, 15-22
Caudal fin rays: 13
Pectoral fin rays: 15-16
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 2
Lateral line: (upper) 24-31 (lower) 6-12

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other meristics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
A large and highly diverse group of modern bony fishes many of which have a generalized perch like body form. Most have pelvic fins with one spine and 5 rays and the maxillary bone is excluded from the gape of the mouth. Interrelationships of the group are poorly understood and continue to be studied. They inhabit almost all aquatic habitats from high-altitude strams to the deep sea, although most are marine.

Family level detail.
Small cryptic bottom-dwelling fishes with the dorsal fin in three separate parts; pelvic fins reduced to a single embedded spine and 2-3 segmented rays, positioned on chest in front of the pectoral-fin bases. Triplefins live on tropical and temperate reefs worldwide, with most species found in the Indo-Pacific. Males are often brightly coloured, especially during the breeding season. Temperate species are often well-camouflaged to blend in with their surroundings.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Tripterygiidae
Genus:
Trinorfolkia
Species:
clarkei

General Description

Small slender fishes with three separate dorsal fins; orbital tentacle a fleshy, multi-lobed, fringed tentacle; nasal tentacle on tubular anterior nostril simple; first dorsal fin lower than second; pectoral fins large, middle rays extend beyond middle of third dorsal fin. Colour variable, ranging from pinkish, orange to brown or grey with a prominent band below eye and 7-8 irregular but evenly-spaced bars on upper surface; first dorsal fin with a large black spot. To 8 cm.

Biology

A common species on rocky reefs.

Habitat

Rocky reefs and jetty pylons in harbours, bays and estuaries, and along the coast, in depths of 0-13 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Triplefins

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

8 cm

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Clark's Threefin, Trinorfolkia clarkei, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6477

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