Scaly-headed triplefin

Taxobox
name = Scaly-headed triplefin
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Tripterygiidae
genus = "Karalepis"
species = "K. stewarti "
binomial = "Karalepis stewarti "
binomial_authority = Hardy, 1984

The scaly-headed triplefin, "Karalepis stewarti", is a triplefin, the only species in the genus "Karalepis", found between North Cape and East Cape on the North Island of New Zealand from depths of about 5 to 30 m, in reef areas of broken rock.

It is a nocturnal species, resting in caves and crevices during the day. Its diet is mollusks and crustaceans.

The scaly-headed triplefin is large for a triplefin. It is similar to the variable triplefin, except that it has a rough bony armour covering much of the head which distinguishes it from all other triplefins.

Its colouring is a mottled pattern of red, white, and brown, with 5 irregular red-brown vertical bars on the body. This camouflage is extremely effective against encrusting growth, and, together with its habit of often not moving unless actually touched, probably explains the lack of sightings until recently.

References

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* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, "Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand", (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8