WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Redcoat Squirrelfish

Sargocentron rubrum

Also known as: Red Soldier, Red Soldierfish, Red Squirrelfish, Red Squirrelfish Redcoat, Redcoat, Redcoat Grouper, Red-striped Squirrelfish, Russet Squirrelfish, Scarlet-tailed Squirrelfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016
VenomousKeep your distance
Adult
@JarJar · LK, Sri Lanka · October 20131 / 7
01

Overview

Found singly, or in schools, sheltering during the day, around caves, cracks, and crevices over areas with strong currents, dispersing at night foraging for food in silty bays, harbours, lagoons, coastal reefs, and around wrecks.
They feed nocturnally on crustaceans and small fish.

Mediterranean migrant via the Suez Canal.

Squirrelfish are nocturnal hunters feeding near the bottom on small fish and swimming crustaceans. During the day they often congregate close to reefs and in caves, sometimes found upside down in caves.
Their colour can change greatly in different lights and if threatened.
Some of this family have venomous spines.

02

How to identify

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific, Mediterranean
  • Country only · 7
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in schools, sheltering during the day, around caves, cracks, and crevices over areas with strong currents, dispersing at night foraging for food in silty bays, harbours, lagoons, coastal reefs, and around wrecks.

04

Adult photos 7

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderHolocentriformes
    5. familyHolocentridae
    6. genusSargocentron
    7. speciesSargocentron rubrum (Forsskål, 1775)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Squirrelfishes-Soldierfishes (Holocentridae)