Smallmouth squirrelfish
Sargocentron microstoma
- Usual depth0–14 m
- Water temperature23–30 °C
- Best monthsJune, July, and August
- How commonOccasional
About this species
Sargocentron microstoma, the fine-lined squirrelfish, slender squirrelfish or smallmouth squirrelfish, is a member of the family Holocentridae. It has a wide range throughout the Indo-Pacific from the Chagos Archipelago, Seychelles, and the Maldives to the Hawaiian Islands, Line Islands, and the Tuamotus Archipelago, north to the Ryukyu Islands and Bonin Islands, south to Austral Islands and throughout Micronesia. It lives near reefs usually at depths between 1–35 m (3.3–114.8 ft), but can be found as deep as 183 m (600 ft). During the day it hides in crevices, especially near Acropora and Pocillopora. It is a nocturnal predator, feeding on crustaceans, worms, and fishes. It can reach sizes of up to 20 cm (7.9 in) TL and has a venomous preopercle.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Sargocentron microstoma”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 14 records
- February: 10 records
- March: 10 records
- April: 17 records
- May: 49 records
- June: 63 records
- July: 99 records
- August: 70 records
- September: 27 records
- October: 42 records
- November: 21 records
- December: 10 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 0–14 m · Deepest record: 29.2 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 23–30 °C
Names and classification
- English
- Smallmouth squirrelfish, Fine-lined Squirrelfish, Silver Squirrelfish, Slender Squirrelfish, smallmouth squirrelfish, Smallmouth Squirrelfish
Names in 3 more languages
- French
- Poisson-écureuil à petite bouche
- Japanese
- Himebisu, ヒメエビス
- Simplified Chinese
- 小口棘鳞鱼
Other scientific names: Adioryx microstomus, Holocentrum bleekeri, Holocentrum microstoma, Holocentrus bleekeri, Holocentrus microstoma, Holocentrus microstomus, Sargocentron microstomum, Sargocentron microstomus, Sargocentron mitrostomus
Similar species
- Silverspot squirrelfish
Sargocentron caudimaculatum
- Crown squirrelfish
Sargocentron diadema
- Japanese soldierfish
Sargocentron ittodai
- Speckled squirrelfish
Sargocentron punctatissimum
- Redcoat
Sargocentron rubrum
- Sabre squirrelfish
Sargocentron spiniferum
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 1,077 open-data records from 1859 to 2022.
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