Sargocentron macrosquamis Golani, 1984
Bigscale squirrelfish
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes), subfamily: Holocentrinae
Max. size:  9 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 4 - 22 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Mozambique and the oceanic islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 4-4; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Body red with silvery reflections on many scales, shading to silvery white on lower part of the head, thorax, and anterior abdomen, scale edge light red; 5-6 oblique scale rows on cheek; body depth 2.3-2.7 in SL; head length (HL) 2.45-2.65 in SL; snout length 3.6-4.0 in HL; interorbital width 5.0-5.4 in HL; mouth terminal to slightly inferior; maxilla extending to a vertical at front edge of pupil or slightly before or beyond to it; upper jaw length 2.85-3.2 in HL; anterior end of nasal bone rounded; moderately large, spineless nasal fossa; upper surface of nasal bone between nasal fossa and edge of premaxillary groove with a retrorse spine; median edge of nasal bone with a retrorse spine and sometimes another anterior to it; preopercular spine 1.6-2.2 in orbit diameter, 4.75-6.4 in HL; spinules on posterior margin of preopercle 31 (on a 4.6 cm SL specimen) to 33-46 (6.25-6.85 cm); 3rd-5th dorsal spines subequal, the longest, 1.85-2.25 in HL; 3rd anal spine 1.45-1.75 in HL; broadly rounded caudal fin lobes (Ref. 27370)
Biology:  Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30573.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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