Spectacled triplefin

{{Short description|Species of fish}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Ruanoho whero (Spectacled triplefin).jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Clements, K.D. |date=2014 |title=Ruanoho whero |volume=2014 |page=e.T189752A1935999 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T189752A1935999.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}

| taxon = Ruanoho whero

| authority = Hardy, 1986{{FishBase|Ruanoho|whero|month=April|year=2019}}

}}

The spectacled triplefin (Ruanoho whero) is a triplefin in the genus Ruanoho. It is commonly found around New Zealand from depths of a few metres to about 30 m, most common in reef areas of broken rock. Its length is between 4 and 8 cm and its head is flattened with large eyes surrounded by a dark band giving rise to its common name. The head and fins have a pattern of fine blue lines. Its large pectoral fins are used as props when resting on the bottom where it spends most of its time.

In the breeding season in winter and spring the males become darker, with a blue/black head and black first dorsal fin, and dark bars on the body.

The specific name is a Māori word meaning "red", a reference to the diagonal reddish striping on its body.{{cite web | url = http://www.etyfish.org/blenniiformes1/ | title = Order BLENNIIFORMES: Families TRIPTERYGIIDAE and DACTYLOSCOPIDAE | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | author1 = Christopher Scharpf | author2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara | accessdate = 30 May 2019 | date = 29 January 2019}}