Triplefins

Chiefly tropical and temperate. Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Dorsal fin tripartite, the first two segments spinous; the third with at least 7 soft rays. Spines in anal fin 0-2, usually 1 or 2. Pelvic fin jugular with a small spine. Branchiostegal rays 6 or 7. Nape without cirri. Usually ctenoid scales, bearing radii anteriorly only. First gill arch with a membranous attachment to operculum. One special feature reported for the group is that the pterygiophore supporting first segmented dorsal fin ray does not support a dorsal fin spine; three or more other pterygiophores preceed said pterygiophore. About 25 cm maximum length, mostly below 6 cm.