Dr. John Ernest (Jack) Randall (†), Hawaii
Info
The triacanthids (Triacanthidae) are a family in the order of the pufferfish relatives (Tetraodontiformes). Like their ancestors, the triggerfish and filefish, they each have a spine instead of the ventral fins; in addition, the first ray of the hard-rayed dorsal fin of the triacanthids is formed into a strong spine.
Photos of the species on the Internet show the fish resting on the three spines.
Species
Tripodichthys angustifrons (Hollard, 1854
Tripodichthys blochii (Bleeker, 1852)
Tripodichthys oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1851)
Triacanthus nieuhofii Bleeker, 1852
Triacanthus biaculeatus is a dark silver fish, becoming paler below, with a very dark membrane on the spiny dorsal fin between the first and third spine (and usually also between spines 3 - 5), a dark spot on the side above and behind the yellow pectoral fin and an indistinct pale median stripe.
The profile of the head from above the eye to the origin of the dorsal fin is slightly convex to straight.
Little is known about the biology of the species.
Etymology:
The species name "biaculeatus" is derived from the Latin" bi" meaning "two" and "aculeatus" meaning "spined" and refers to the two pointed pelvic fin spines.
The genus name "Triacanthus" comes from the Greek, "tres, tria" = "three" and "akantha" for spine.
Synonyms:
Balistes biaculeatus Bloch, 1786
Triacanthus biaculaetus (Bloch, 1786)
Triacanthus brevirostris Temminck & Schlegel, 1850
Photos of the species on the Internet show the fish resting on the three spines.
Species
Tripodichthys angustifrons (Hollard, 1854
Tripodichthys blochii (Bleeker, 1852)
Tripodichthys oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1851)
Triacanthus nieuhofii Bleeker, 1852
Triacanthus biaculeatus is a dark silver fish, becoming paler below, with a very dark membrane on the spiny dorsal fin between the first and third spine (and usually also between spines 3 - 5), a dark spot on the side above and behind the yellow pectoral fin and an indistinct pale median stripe.
The profile of the head from above the eye to the origin of the dorsal fin is slightly convex to straight.
Little is known about the biology of the species.
Etymology:
The species name "biaculeatus" is derived from the Latin" bi" meaning "two" and "aculeatus" meaning "spined" and refers to the two pointed pelvic fin spines.
The genus name "Triacanthus" comes from the Greek, "tres, tria" = "three" and "akantha" for spine.
Synonyms:
Balistes biaculeatus Bloch, 1786
Triacanthus biaculaetus (Bloch, 1786)
Triacanthus brevirostris Temminck & Schlegel, 1850
