First Record of the Triplefin Fish, Helcogramma Ellioti (Herre, 1944), from the Gulf of Oman, Iran (Blenniformes: Tripterygiidae: Tripterygiinae)

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

First record of the Triplefin fish, Helcogramma ellioti (Herre, 1944), from the Gulf of Oman, Iran (Blenniformes: Tripterygiidae: Tripterygiinae)

Maryam SHARIFINIYA1 , Hamed MOUSAVI-SABET1 , Mohammad Sadegh ALAVI-YEGANEH2 Mehdi GHANBARIFARDI3*

1 Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Abstract Natural Resources, University of First record of the Triplefin fish (Blenniiformes: Tripterygiidae), Helcogramma ellioti, is Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Guilan, Iran. 2 reported here based on six specimens collected from Chabahar, northern Gulf of Oman in Faculty of Marine Science, Tarbiat February 2019. Identification was confirmed based on a series of morphological characters Modares University , Nur, Iran. 3Department of Biology, Faculty of including, a minute supraorbital tentacle, 3-5 symphyseal mandibular pores, a numerous number of scales in lateral line (36-37) and a low number of total lateral scale rows (38-39). Specimens Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran. were found in coral reef areas at depths of 1-15 m of the Gulf of Oman in the Indo-Pacific region. Compared to the other members of Helcogramma, H. ellioti is regarded as a medium to sss Correspondence large body size species (25.0-57.0mm SL). Although several species of triplefin fishes have [email protected] been reported from the Persian Gulf, but, it is the first record from Tripterygiidae for the Iranian Article history: waters of the Gulf of Oman. Received 29 November, 2020 Keywords: Accepted 28 June 2021 Chabahar, Helcogramma ellioti, Morphology-based identification. Online 25 September 2021

INTRODUCTION dorsal fin with more spines than rays (vs. dorsal fin Tripterygiids (triplefins or threefin blennies) are with more, a few species with 0 to 3 less, segmented benthic blenniiform fishes (Nelson et al. 2016), than spinous rays). Having two dorsal fins (the first inhabiting subtidal and intertidal rock pools and coral spinous and the second with one spine and 5 to 37 reefs of the temperate, tropical and subtropical seas segmented rays) makes Eleotridae and Gobiidae (Fricke 1997, 2017). A total of 29 genera and 183 distinguishable from Tripterygiidae. Gobiidae have a species are known in this family (Fricke et al. 2021). united pelvic fin while they are separated in All species of this family are small and does not Tripterygiidae (Williams & Fricke 2001). exceed 150mm SL (Fricke 1997). Studies on the southern coasts of the Persian Gulf Tripterygiids are characterized by having ctenoid and the Gulf of Oman have confirmed representatives scales (rarely cycloid), three dorsal fins and loss of the of Tripterygiidae, including, Enneapterygius (3 posteriormost spine of the second dorsal fin (Fricke species), Helcogramma (2 species) and Norfolkia (1 1994, 1997, 2017). For a long time, tripterygiid fishes species) (Randall 1995; Carpenter 1997; Bishop were classified in Clinidae (Fricke 1997). This family 2003); however, none of them have reported H. ellioti. is similar to Blenniidae, Clinidae, Eleotridae and Revision of the blennioid fish of the family Gobiidae. Tripterygiidae differs from Clinidae by Tripterygiidae from Red sea resulted in recognition of having three clearly defined dorsal fins (vs. one or two H. obtusirostris and H. steinitzi (Holleman & clearly defined dorsal fins), middle rays of the caudal Bogorodsky 2012), the two species as same as records fin branched (vs. unbranched) and distinguish from from the Oman coasts. Helcogramma ellioti was Blenniidae with having scaly body (vs. naked), several described from Maharanepeta Beach, eastern coast of rows of the conical teeth, at least anteriorly in jaws (vs. India (Herre 1944). This species has been reported single row of incisors in each jaw), three clearly from Cape Comorion, southern of India (Talwar & defined dorsal fins (vs. single continuous fin, often Sen 1971), Gujarat and Karachi, western of India deeply notched between spinous and segmented rays), (Holleman, 2007; Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003). There

Journal homepage: www.ijichthyol.org DOI: https://doi.org/10.22034/iji.v8i3.649 182 Sharifiniya et al./ First record of the Triplefin fish

Fig.1. Sampling sites of Helcogramma ellioti (red triangle) from Chabahar (25.28 N, 60.66 E) and Ramin (25.27 N, 60.75 E), Gulf of Oman. has been no confirmation record of presence of the under a stereomicroscope. Mandibular pores were Tripterygiidae representatives for the Iranian waters of presented according to the Williams & McCormick the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. (1990) formula: right dentary + symphysial + left The present study's aim is to first record of the dentary. Color patterns were described from live and Triplefin fish, Helcogramma ellioti (Herre, 1944) preserved specimens. Maximum, minimum, mean and from the Gulf of Oman, Iran. standard deviation of morphometric characters were calculated using SPSS v.16.0 software. MATERIALS AND METHODS Specimen collection and morphological RESULTS examinations: Seven specimens of H. ellioti were Helcogramma ellioti (Herre, 1944) collected from the coastal waters of Chabahar and Elliot's triplefin Ramin in Iranian coast of the Gulf of Oman (Fig. 1). Tripterygion ellioti Fish from Chabahar (six specimens) and Ramin (one Herre, 1944: 49-50 (India: Maharanepeta Beach, specimen) was caught using Scuba diving (subtidal Vizagapatam; Waltair, 2 or 3miles further north; zone) and hand-net (intertidal zone), respectively. Lawson's Bay, north of Waltair; Lawson's Bay, 10 Since the specimen from Ramin is deposited in miles south of Trivandrum; abundant around rocks on alcohol, its morphological measurements are not all costs of peninsular India; holotype: CAS-SU compared by the other six specimens deposited in 38840). formalin. Specimens were recognized based on their Helcogramma indicus Talwar & Sen, 1971: 248-250, morphological characters using the available fig. l (India: Cape Comorin, Tamil Nadu). Recorded identification keys (Herre 1944; Hansen 1986; Fricke from Cape Comorin, Southern India. The species 1994, 1997; Holleman 2007). Counts and H. ellioti is distinguished by combination of the measurements follow Hansen (1986) and Fricke following characters: Dorsal fins: D1: III, D2: XIII, (1994, 1997). A total of 27 morphometric features D3: 10-11, second dorsal fin spine same height of first were measured using a digital caliper to the nearest one of first fin; anal fin I, 18-19; pectoral fins 16; 0.1mm. Then meristic characteristics viz. counts of the pelvic fins I, 2, spine short and hidden, segmented rays pectoral, pelvic, anal, caudal and the first, second and simple, partially united by membrane; segmented third dorsal fin elements, lateral line scales and the caudal fin rays 14, caudal fin base with only 1 row of mandibular pores of six specimens were counted scales; lateral line scales 36-37, ending under Iran. J. Ichthyol. (2021) 8(3): 181-188 183

c Fig.2. Photographs of Helcogramma ellioti. (a: Fresh male specimen of H. ellioti (TL = 44.2mm) from Chabahar, Northern Oman Sea; b: Preserved male specimen of Helcogramma ellioti (TL = 43mm) from Ramin, Northern Oman Sea and c: Fresh male specimen of H. ellioti (TL= 42.5mm) from Chabahar, Northern Oman Sea). posteriormost 8 dorsal-fin elements; head, abdomen, Color in life: Sexually dimorphic in color pattern. anal fin and pectoral-fin base naked; caudal fin base Male head dark brown on top with reddish above eye, with only 1 row of scales; mandibular pores formula black and blue below, blue and black ocellus on cheek, 5+3+5; supraorbital cirri small and simple; small and with narrow blue stripe from corner of mouth onto leaflike cirii on nasal; without cirri on nape; ctenoid preopercle, body brownish grey with four vertical pale scales; 3-4 irregular rows of fixed, slightly recurved saddles; first dorsal fin blue anteriorly with an orange conical teeth in Jaws, 2-3 irregular rows of conical blotch on the second membrane; second and third teeth on vomer and anterior ends of palantines. Table dorsal fins are translucent with blackish basal and 1 gives a summary of morphometric and meristic data yellow and red oblique semi-bars on rays; pectoral of the six specimens of H. ellioti from the Gulf of base translucent with a brilliant blue blotch Oman. The morphometric data are presented as surrounded by orange; belly and pelvic-fin orange; standard lengths. caudal fin translucent with dark base (Fig. 2a). 184 Sharifiniya et al./ First record of the Triplefin fish

Table 1. Information of morphometric and meristic properties of Helcogramma ellioti from Chabahar (six specimens measured).

Reference (Fricke, 1994) Proportion Min-Max Mean±SD (142 specimens examined) Weight (g) 1.01-1.98 1.54±0.42 - Morphometric characters (mm) Standard length 36.20-45.90 42.90±4.04 42-54.90 % in standard length Body height 43.35-45.30 41.73± 1.78 40.60-45.80

Head length 26.51-28.43 27.14± 0.97 29.20-30.30 Head height at nape 7-8.46 8.15 ±0.67 - SnoutEye diameter length 4.402.66-5.553.36 5.553.17 ±0.48±0.29 14.808.80-15.309.90 Postorbital distance 5-6.30 5.90±0.53 - Interorbital distance 2-2.40 2.26±0.15 1.60-1.80 Preorbital distance 2.20-2.80 2.66±0.26 6.40-6.70 Length of longest first dorsal fin spine 11.87-12.82 12.28±0.47 12.50-14.50 Length of second first dorsal fin spine 9.11-10.55 9.90±0.72 11.50-13.50 Length of third first dorsal fin spine 7.90-8.60 8.19±0.35 8-9.60 Length of first second dorsal fin spine 11.60-12.89 12.26± 0.64 13-15/50 Length of longest second dorsal fin spine 15.46-17.20 16.35± 0.86 14.80-17.60 Length of first third dorsal fin soft ray 18.28-18.90 18.50±0.31 20-21.70 Length of longest third dorsal fin soft ray 11.04-11.88 11.33± 0.42 8.20-11 First dorsal fin base length 9.66-10.06 9.69±0.22 - Second dorsal fin base length 27.62-29.06 27.90±0.76 - Third dorsal fin base length 16.57-17.83 17.02±0.63 - Pectoral fin length 33.14-36.13 34.52±0.49 28.20-31 Pectoral fin base length 8.28-8.90 8.50±0.31 - Pelvic fin length 16.57-17.62 17.02±0.52 13.20-14.30 Pelvic fin base length 0.55-0.69 0.59±0.07 - Longest anal soft-ray length 11.04-13.05 12.02±1 8.10-10.20 Anal fin base length 41.43-46.50 43.92±2.53 - Caudal fin length 14.19-15.26 14.57±0.54 19.10-20.50 Caudal peduncle height 7.62-8.22 7.85±0.3 6.70-7.40 Caudal peduncle length 12.43-13.35 12.76±0.46 11.40-13.60 Meristic characters First dorsal fin spines 3 3 Second dorsal fin spines 13 12-15 Third dorsal fin soft rays 10-11 7-12 Pectoral fin rays 16 12-17 Pelvic fin spines 1 1 Pelvic fin soft rays 2 2 Anal fin spine 1 1 Anal fin soft rays 18-19 16-20 Caudal fin ray 14 Lateral line scales 36-37 22-39

Preserved fish (Fig. 2b) was identified based on first and very fine orange-brown spots below; fins description of H. ellioti and other major studies (Herre translucent with black and yellow strips on rays (Fig. 1944; Hansen 1986; Holleman 2007). 2c). Live female much paler with four dark H-shaped bands; head yellow, orange on top and around the DISCUSSION eyes, with scattered light green and brown pigments Helcogramma ellioti is a widely distributed species of Iran. J. Ichthyol. (2021) 8(3): 181-188 185

Tripterygiidae which is distinguished by a blue strip of these six groups with only two species consist of running from the corner of the mouth onto the margin H. ellioti and H. novaecaledoniae that share some of the preopercle in mature males and diagnosed characters, including a medium to large body size, the especially by having a minute supraorbital tentacle orbital tentacle present (minute), a high number of and 3-5 symphyseal mandibular pores (Holleman lateral line scales (22-39) and a low number of total 2007). lateral scale rows (33-40) (Fricke 1997). Compared to The general morphology of the seven collected other congeners, H. ellioti is a relatively large species specimens are match to the morphological characters (25.0-57.0mm SL), bearing a minute supraorbital of the type specimen of H. ellioti (Hansen 1986) and tentacle, 3-5 symphyseal mandibular pores, a the subsequent descriptions (Fricke 1994; Holleman numerous number of the scales in lateral line and a low 2007). Hansen (1986) and Fricke (1994) stated that number of the scale rows in the lateral line and found H. ellioti has just one symphyseal mandibular pore in coral reef areas at depths of 1-15m of Indo-Pacific and its mandibular pore pattern is 3+1+3 (Hansen (Fricke 1997, Holleman 2007). Helcogramma ellioti is 1986) or 3-5+1+3-5 (Fricke 1994), while Holleman distinguishable from the only other species of (2007) proposed 5-7+3-5+5-7 pattern and concluded H. ellioti group; H. novaecaledoniae, with presence of their results were wrong. According with Holleman a supraorbital tentacle (vs. lack of these tentacles in (2007), our seven specimens have three symphyseal H. novaecaledoniae) and different coloration of the mandibular pores and mandibular pore pattern of body, head, pelvic and second dorsal fins (Fricke 5+3+5. 1994, 1997). Helcogramma ellioti occurs Helcogramma is the second largest genus of sympatrically with H. rosea, H. serendip, H. billi and tripterygiid that was described by McCulloch & Waite H. shinglensis. It is similar to H. billi and (1918) based on H. decurrens from the southern H. shinglensis by having a similar scale colors and an Australia as the only known species for the first time ocellus on the pectoral–fin base and red above the eyes (Fricke 1994). This genus comprises 47 valid species and blue–black below (in males). It is similar to (Fricke et al. 2021) distributed through the Indo-West H. billi in having a long lateral line that extends onto Pacific and southeastern Atlantic (Williams & the caudal peduncle and differ from it with a naked McCormick 1990; Fricke 1997; Chiang & Chen nape. Helcogramma shinglensis is distinguished from 2012). Morphometric and meristic characters of the H. ellioti by having fewer tubed lateral–line scales members of this genus are similar and can be easily (21–24) (vs 34–35 in H. ellioti) and lower first dorsal confused. Males larger than 20.0mm SL are fin. Helcogramma ellioti can be distinguished from H. distinguishable by color pattern which is species rosea with color pattern and has a micro– specific but females and smaller specimens have the melanophores on first dorsal fin and it can be generalized color pattern and difficult to be distinguished from H. serendip with number of lateral distinguished (Hansen 1986). This genus also can be line tubes (33-37) (vs. 20–22 in H. serendip) distinguished from other genera of Tripterygiidae by (Holleman 2007). having a single lateral line with 7-39 tubular pored Blennioid fishes of the Iranian coasts of the Persian scales, three spines in the first dorsal fin, one short and Gulf and the Gulf of Oman have been studied by flexible spine in the anal fin and pelvic fin with one several researchers that all their studies have been on hidden spine and two soft rays (Rosenblatt 1960; the family Blenniidae. The results of Ghanbarifardi & Fricke 1994, 1997). Fricke (1997) identified six Malek (2007), Attaran-Fariman et al (2016a, 2016b), species groups within Helcogramma genus Mehraban & Esmaeili (2018) and Estekani et al (2020) comprising H. chica, H. ellioti, H. fuscopinna, reveal presence of 19 species of Blenniidae in the H. hudsoni, H. obtusirostre, H. fuscipectoris and Iranian coasts of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of H. striatum groups. Helcogramma ellioti group is one Oman. No species of Tripterygiidae has been reported 186 Sharifiniya et al./ First record of the Triplefin fish from these areas as yet that could be because of lack 1810) from Makoran coastal waters (Southeast of Iran). of comprehensive studies in area, small size of species Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 19(2): 1006-1014. and cryptic color patterns of the members of this Fricke, R. 1994. Tripterygiid fishes of the genus family. This species has been reported as a frequent Enneapterygius from Bali, Indonesia, with descriptions fish from the coasts of India (East to west) (Herre of two new species (Teleostei: Blennioidei). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde Serie A (Biologie) 512: 1-13. 1944; Talwar & Sen 1971) and Pakistan (Holleman, Fricke, R. 1997. Tripterygiid fishes of the western and 2007; Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003) and we record it central Pacific, with descriptions of 15 new species, from Iran in the present study; however, it has not been including an annotated checklist of world Tripterygiidae recognized from southern parts of the Persian Gulf and (Teleostei). Theses Zoologicae v. 29. Koeltz Scientific Gulf of Oman after considerable surveys (Randall Books, Königstein. 1-607 p. 1995; Carpenter 1997; Bishop 2003) and Red Sea Fricke, R. 2017. Enneapterygius niue, a new species of (Holleman & Bogorodsky 2012). triplefin from Niue and Samoa, southwestern Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Tripterygiidae). Journal of the Ocean ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Science Foundation 25: 14-32. We thank University of Guilan for the financial Fricke, R.; Eschmeyer W. & Fong, J.D. 2021. Eschmeyer's support of the sampling trip to Chabahar. Thanks also Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. 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مقاله پژوهشی اولین گزارش از ماهیان بلنی سه باله، (Helcogramma ellioti (Herre, 1944 در خلیج عمان )بلنی ماهی شکالن: سه باله ماهیان، بلنی سه باله(

مریم شریفی نیا1، سید حامد موسوی ثابت1، محمد صادق علوی یگانه2، مهدی قنبری فردی*3 1گروه شیالت، دانشکده منابع طبیعی، دانشگاه گیالن، صومعه سرا، گیالن، ایران. 2دانشکده علوم دریایی، دانشگاه تربیت مدرس، نور، ایران. 3گروه زیستشناسی، دانشکده علوم، دانشگاه سیستان و بلوچستان، سیستان و بلوچستان، ایران.

چکیده: اولین مشاهده ماهی سه باله Blenniiformes: Tripterygiidae( Helcogramma ellioti( بر اساس شش نمونه جمعآوری شده از چابهار، شمال دریای عمان، در بهمن ماه 1331 گزارش شده است. شناسایی این گونه براساس مجموعهای از ویژگیهای ریختی شامل یک تانتاکول کوچک در باالی چشم، 5-3 منفذ در محل اتصال فکهای چپ و راست، تعداد زیادی فلس در خط جانبی )31-33( و تعداد نسبتاً کم فلسهای جانبی )33-33( مبتنی میباشد. نمونهها در مناطق صخرههای مرجانی در اعماق 15-1 متر در دریای عمان از منطقه هند-آرام یافت شدند. در مقایسه با سایر گونههای متعلق به جنس Helcogramma، گونه H. ellioti دارای جثه متوسط تا بزرگ میباشد )طول استاندارد 25 تا 51 میلیمتر(. اگرچه چندین گونه از ماهیهای خانواده بلنیهای سه باله از خلیج فارس گزارش شدهاند، ولی این اولین گزارش از ماهیهای این خانواده از آبهای ایرانی دریای عمان میباشد.

کلماتکلیدی: چابهار، Helcogramma ellioti، شناسایی ریختی.

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