Oblique-swimming triplefin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oblique-swimming triplefin |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Tripterygiidae |
| Genus: | Forsterygion |
| Species: |
F. maryannae
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| Binomial name | |
| Forsterygion maryannae (Hardy, 1987)
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| Synonyms | |
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The oblique-swimming triplefin, also known as Forsterygion maryannae, is a small fish found in the waters around the North Island of New Zealand. It is called a "triplefin" because it has three separate dorsal fins on its back. This fish is special because it swims in a unique way, with its head higher than its tail, which makes it look like it's swimming at an angle.
Contents
About the Oblique-Swimming Triplefin
Most triplefins usually rest on the bottom of the ocean. However, the oblique-swimming triplefin is different. It spends most of its time swimming in the water above rocky reefs. These fish often swim together in large groups, sometimes with hundreds of them in a single school.
Where It Lives
You can find the oblique-swimming triplefin along the northeast coast of New Zealand's North Island. They live in ocean waters at different depths, usually from about 5 meters (16 feet) down to 50 meters (164 feet) below the surface.
What It Looks Like
This fish is quite small, typically growing to be about 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) long. Its body is usually orange-brown, and its head often has a reddish color. It has a black eye and a wide black stripe that runs lengthwise along each side of its body.
What It Eats
Oblique-swimming triplefins are plankton feeders. This means they eat tiny living things that float in the water. Their diet mainly includes small crustaceans like copepods and euphausids. They catch their food while swimming in the middle of the water.
Why It's Called That
The scientific name for this fish, maryannae, was chosen to honor a talented underwater photographer named Maryann W. Williams.
See also
In Spanish: Forsterygion maryannae para niños
