This small fish s greyish green (or brownish black) with lighter patches over the body. Four of the light patches extend up to the base of the second dorsal fin. As with all triplefins this fish has three dorsal fins. There are three tentacles over each eye, which look a little like eyebrows. All the fins except the last dorsal fin and tail fins are greenish in colour, those are more likely to have an orange tint. Males turn dark grey or black during the breeding season.

Usually found in rock pools from low tide to about 16m in sheltered bays and harbours.

A voracious predator of invertebrates such as worms, molluscs and amphipods.

Tends to live for 5 years in the South and 2-3 years in the north of NZ. As with most triplefins the male guards a nest, usually scraped out of the gravel under a rock, the eggs will be attached to the sheltering rock.

Photo Credit: Rod Morris. Photos available from www.rodmorris.co.nz