Pteragogus trispilus

Size range: 7-8 cm (max: 10 cm)

Common size: ?

Depth range: 1-30 m

Habitat:

• Vegetation - seaweed, Mainly
• Hard - rocky and mixed habitats

Water column position:

• Benthic

Schooling characteristics:

• Solitary

Colors & patterns:

Beige to grey-black blotch (ocellus) on gill cover, usually obvious, white bar on cheek, often double.

A rather straight head profile

Pointed pelvic fins.

Elongated dark blotches along lateral line, mixed with white fragments.

May display very different colors (red, orange, yellow, green, etc.

• Males - very long pelvic fins.

Behavior:

• Cryptic, Reef-associated

2. Activity:?

• Diurnal
• Nocturnal
• Both
• Crepuscular

3. Approach: Shy

5. Feeding characteristic - not well established, gut content included foraminiferans and crustaceans.

Native/Exotic: Exotic

EM notes: When first observed in the Mediterranean was mistakenly identified as Pteragogus pelicus, and than was defined as a new species, in 2013.

First seen by the lab members in the 2019 Crete surveys (October). Right after was seen during the 2019 fall Biobliz survey, in Achziv.