Sargocentron spiniferum
Sabre Squirrelfish | Giant Squirrelfish | Longjaw Squirrelfish | Spinecheek Squirrelfish | Spiny Squirrelfish
Similar Species
Same Genus
Distribution
Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Large, red with distinctive pale markings on face giving a 'skeletal' apperance, and a long, thick spine on cheek before gill cover. Pectoral, pelvic and anal fins and lower lobe of tail yellow. Usually hiding well back in caves or underledges. Lack of a white tail base distinguishes it from smaller but similar S. caudimaculatum (Whitetail Squirrelfish).
Information
Max Size: 51 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 23.1-31.2°C
Depth: 1-122m
Habitat Generalization Index: 18.19
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Common (25.2% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Few (2 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: RD Stuart-Smith, GJ Edgar, AJ Green, IV Shaw. 2015. Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia. Reed New Holland