Largemouth Threefin, Ucla xenogrammus Holleman, 1993

Scientific name: Ucla xenogrammus
Alternative name/s:
Largemouth Triplefin
Largemouth Threefin Click to enlarge image
A Largemouth Threefin at a depth of about 4m, in the lagoon between South Island and Palfrey Island, Lizard Island, Queensland, 18th Nov 2012. Image: Johanna Werminghausen
© Johanna Werminghausen

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Ucla
    Species
    xenogrammus
    Family
    Tripterygiidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    In comparison to other Threefins, it is quite large, growing to almost 5 cm in length.

Introduction

Like all tripterigyid fishes, the Largemouth Threefin has three dorsal fins. The species occurs in coral reef and tropical inshore waters from the eastern Indian Ocean to the Central Pacific.

Identification

Like all tripterigyid fishes, the Largemouth Threefin has three dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin has three spines. The species has a translucent to whitish body with small black spots, white bars and irregular red blotches. The fins have white and red bands. There is a Y-shaped maroon line on either side of the snout that bifurcates at the nostrils.

Paratypes of this species are stored in the Australian Museum Fish Collection (AMS I.21903–033, I.20779–166, I.20774–011). The holotype was collected at Lizard Island, Queensland.

Habitat

The species is found on coral reefs and tropical inshore waters.

Distribution

The species occurs from the eastern Indian Ocean to the Central Pacific. In Australia it is known from south-western Western Australia to the Northern Territory including the offshore islands of north-western Western Australia. It is also found from the northern to central coasts of Queensland and offshore islands in the Coral Sea.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Fricke, R. 1994. Tripterygiid fishes of Australia, New Zealand and the Southwest Pacific Ocean, with descriptions of 2 new genera and 16 species (Teleostei). Theses Zoologicae. 24: 1–585 figs 1–130.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific. University of Hawai'i Press. Pp. 707.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.