Sargocentron coruscum
Reef Squirrelfish
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Beryciformes
Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes)
Sargocentron
Sargocentron coruscum (Reef Squirrelfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. This species is distinguished by the following characters: 3rd or 4th dorsal spines longest, 1.8-2.0 HL; pectoral rays 13-14 (usually 13); lateral line scales 33-38, scale rows above 2.5; oblique scale rows on cheek 4; gill rakers of first gill arch 5-7 + 9-11; body depth 2.7-3.0 in SL; posterior edge of nasal fossa with 1-6 spinules, 0-1 at anterior edge; upper edge of first suborbital bone with a laterally projecting spine near a vertical at the front edge of orbit, followed by a serrated ridge; preopercular spine 3/4 to nearly equal to orbit diameter, 2.85-3.5 in head length. Colour of body with alternating broad deep red and narrow silvery stripes on body; distinct black spot on middle of caudal-fin base; black marks at base of soft dorsal and anal fins; dark streak near anterior edge of anal fin (Ref. 27370, 90102). Striking features: none.
Distribution
Western Pacific: Indonesia (including Mentawai Islands), Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Great Barrier Reef. Also reported from Malaysia (Ref. 5756), Tosa Bay, Japan (Ref. 559), and Viet Nam (Ref. 9706).
Habitat Associations
Brackish, marine. reef-associated. depth range 6-40 m. Found in: coral reefs.
Biology
Inhabits coral-rich areas of outer reef slopes and drop-offs to depths greater than 40 m (Ref. 9710). Hides in caves or beneath ledges by day; forage for food at night, mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps. Spine of preopercle venomous.
Max length: 27.0 cm TL; max weight: 93 g.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2015-03-04. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
References
Thresher, R.E. (1984) Reproduction in reef fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Neptune City, New Jersey. 399 p.
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene (1990) Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p.
Randall, J.E. (1998) Revision of the Indo-Pacific squirrelfishes (Beryciformes: Holocentridae: Holocentrinae) of the genus Sargocentron, with descriptions of four new species. Indo-Pac. Fish. (27):105 p.
Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka (2001) Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 1-302.
Allen, G.R. (2004) Handy pocket guide to tropical coral reef fishes. Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. 64 p.
Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann (2012) Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth, Australia: Universitiy of Hawai'i Press, Volumes I-III. Tropical Reef Research.
Comments On Sargocentron coruscum