Spectacled Triplefin | Ruanoho Whero

New Zealand is the world capital of triplefins, and the spectacled triplefin is the star of the show! You can’t miss then -they have dark bands around their eyes that look exactly like they’re wearing oversized sunglasses or a bit too much mascara. These red-orange fish are covered in intricate blue and white patterns, making them pop against the rocky reefs they call home. Usually found in shallow water down to 20 metres, they spend their days hunting for small treats like worms and brittle stars. Given they live in shallow kelp forests, overfishing (causing kina barrens), marine heatwaves, and sediment runoff are all threats to this species.