Colours
Distinguishing features
A small to medium sized fish with very large eyes. The body is gold above, fading to white below, with a series of maroon lines running horizontally along the flanks. The large black spot at the front of the dorsal fin is a diagnostic character. During the daytime usually seen singly or in small groups hovering head down near or in caves and coral overhangs.
Size
- Up to 32 cm (Standard length)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Areas of branching coral are the daytime resting sites. Roams over the reef at night time to feed.
Can be found in most locations around the island, although prefers lagoonal areas.
Behaviour
An active nocturnal predator on large crustacean zooplankton such as crab and shrimp larvae, these fish rest near shelter during the day and are quite shy. They reach maturity at about 6 years of age. The liver of these fishes contains exceptionally high levels of zinc, which seems to be related to the normal metabolic processes. Squirrelfishes communicate with sounds underwater, using muscles to vibrate the swimbladder.
Web resources
References
- Carlson, B.A. and A.H. Bass (2000). Sonic/vocal motor pathways in squirrelfish (Teleostei, Holocentridae), Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 56: 14. LIRS catalog number 90057.
- Hogstrand, C. and C. Haux (1996). Naturally high levels of zinc and metallothionein in liver of several species of the squirrelfish family from Queensland, Australia, Marine Biology, 125: 23-31. LIRS catalog number 90055.
- Lecchini, D., Y. Nakamura, M. Tsuchiya and R. Galzin (2007). Spatiotemporal distribution of nocturnal coral reef fish juveniles in Moorea Island, French Polynesia, Ichthyological Research, 54: 18-23. LIRS catalog number 90056.
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