Sargocentron xantherythrum (Jordan & Evermann, 1903)
Hawaiian squirrelfish
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes), subfamily: Holocentrinae
Max. size:  17 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 217 m
Distribution:  Eastern Central Pacific: known only from the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 4-4; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Body with alternating about stripes of red and silvery white; head red; operculum with silvery reflections, a white streak from above edge of upper jaw to the corner of pre, and a narrow white band on posterior edge of preopercle. Five oblique scale rows on cheek; body depth 2.7-3.1 in SL; head length (HL) 2.55-2.75 in SL; snout length 3.85-4.15 in HL; interorbital width 4.8-5.15 in HL; maxilla extending from below front of the pupil nearly to center of the eye, upper jaw length 2.55-2.8 in HL; premaxillary groove at least to a vertical at front edge of the orbit; rounded anterior end of nasal; medial margin of nasal bone spineless; small nasal fossa without spinules on margin; slight ridge along the upper edge of suborbital bones smooth anteriorly, slightly serrate below posterior part of eye; preopercular spine, 5.4-7.1 in HL; 2 opercular spines (1 specimen with a large opercular spine), the lower 1/2 to 2/3 length of the upper spine; 4th dorsal spine usually longest, 2.2-2.55 in HL; 3rd anal spine 1.5-2.05 in HL (Ref. 27370).
Biology:  Inhabits seaward reefs below the surge zone, common near caves and ledges (Ref. 9710). Feeds mainly on crustaceans.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.