Helcogramma


Helcogramma is a genus in the triplefin family Tripterygiidae. The blennies in the genus Helcogramma are found throughout the Indo-Pacific and in the South Atlantic Ocean off the islands of St Helena and Ascension.

Characteristics

The fishes in the genus Helcogramma are characterised by the possession of a continuous lateral line which bends down towards the operculum, this lateral line comprises 7–39 tubular pored scales. There are three spines in the first dorsal fin and the anal fin has one spine, the pelvic fin has a single spine and two rays. The head is scaleless and normally the bases of the dorsal and anal fins have a scaleless strip. There are five bones in the joint between the caudal fin and the vertebrae, the hypurals.

Species

There are currently 41 recognized species in this genus:Helcogramma albimacula J. T. Williams & Howe, 2003 Helcogramma alkamr Holleman, 2007Helcogramma aquila J. T. Williams & C. J. McCormick, 1990 Helcogramma ascensionis Lubbock, 1980 Helcogramma atauroensis Fricke & Erdmann, 2017Helcogramma billi P. E. Hadley, 1986Helcogramma capidata Rosenblatt, 1960 Helcogramma cerasina J. T. Williams & Howe, 2003 Helcogramma chica Rosenblatt, 1960 Helcogramma decurrens McCulloch & Waite, 1918 Helcogramma desa J. T. Williams & Howe, 2003 Helcogramma ellioti Helcogramma ememes Holleman, 2007Helcogramma fuscipectoris Helcogramma fuscopinna Holleman, 1982 Helcogramma gymnauchen Helcogramma hudsoni Helcogramma inclinata Helcogramma ishigakiensis Aoyagi, 1954 Helcogramma kranos R. Fricke, 1997 Helcogramma lacuna J. T. Williams & Howe, 2003Helcogramma larvata R. Fricke & J. E. Randall, 1992Helcogramma maldivensis R. Fricke & J. E. Randall, 1992Helcogramma microstigma Holleman, 2006Helcogramma nesion J. T. Williams & Howe, 2003Helcogramma nigra J. T. Williams & Howe, 2003 Helcogramma novaecaledoniae R. Fricke, 1994 Helcogramma obtusirostris Helcogramma randalli J. T. Williams & Howe, 2003 Helcogramma rharhabe Holleman, 2007Helcogramma rhinoceros P. E. Hadley, 1986 Helcogramma rosea Holleman, 2006 Helcogramma serendip Holleman, 2007Helcogramma shinglensis Lal Mohan, 1971Helcogramma solorensis R. Fricke, 1997 Helcogramma springeri P. E. Hadley, 1986 Helcogramma steinitzi E. Clark, 1980 Helcogramma striata P. E. Hadley, 1986 Helcogramma trigloides Helcogramma vulcana J. E. Randall & E. Clark, 1993 Helcogramma williamsi M. C. Chiang & I. S. Chen, 2012