Common family name
SquirrelfishScientific name
MyripristinaeSize
Up to 50 cm, average 18 cm.Identification
Flat, oval-shaped body with rough looking two colour scales. Deeply forked tails. Large eyes and blunt nose. Usually red in colouration with lighter vertical lines across the body.General Information
Myripristinae sub-family consists of 8 genera and 84 species. They are part of the soldierfish family. Found over reefs during the day or hiding in crevices and under ledges. Hunt mostly at night. Prefer areas with strong currents. Some have a spine near the gill opening that can cause a painful wound. Pelagic spawners.Diet
Feeds on large plankton such as crustacean plankton larvae.Distribution
Occurs in all temperate and tropical oceans of the world.Common species
Crown squirrelfish - Sargocentron diademaSabre squirrelfish - Sargocentron spiniferum
Tailspot squirrelfish - Sargocentron caudimaculatum