Pink squirrelfish
📖 Overview
Found in relatively deep waters of outer reef slopes and has been collected on reef flat and lagoon patch reefs. Feeds mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps at night. Spine of preopercle venomous. Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 14; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10. Body silvery pink with longitudinal red stripes; head red with silvery reflections on the cheek and opercle; spinous dorsal pink (or light red) with submarginal dark red band, the membranes tipped in white; other fins red to yellowish red, with the upper and lower edges of the caudal fin darker red; leading edges of anal and pelvic fins white with a submarginal darker red band, base of pectoral fins darker red. Four oblique scale rows on cheek; body depth 2.6-2.9 in SL; head length (HL) 2.6-2.85 in SL; snout length 3.45-3.95 in HL; mouth often terminal; maxilla extending to between verticals just short of front of the pupil and just about center of the eye, upper jaw length 2.45-2.6 in HL; premaxillary groove reaching to a vertical at front edge of the orbit; anterior end of nasal bone with 2 short diverging spines; surface and medial margin of nasal bone spineless; moderately large nasal fossa often spineless on margin (an 11.8 cm SL specimen from Comoros, ROM 56585, has 2 spinules on the edge of the fossa, one on each side; a 9.4 cm, FMNH 17947, has a small spinule on one side on the edge of the fossa); upper edge of suborbital bones uniformly serrate; preopercular spine about 2/3 orbit diameter, 3.8-4.7 in HL; opercular spines 2, the lower from 2/3 as long to nearly as long as upper spine; short dorsal spines, 3rd to 5th dorsal spines subequal, 4th usually longest, 2.25-2.7 in HL; 3rd anal spine 1.25-1.6 in HL .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Pink squirrelfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 100 m , usually 0 - 15 m . Tropical; 30°N - 21°S East Africa (except the Red Sea) to the Line and Society Islands, north to Ryukyu and Wake Islands, south to Vanuatu; throughout Micronesia (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
benthic crabs and shrimps at night
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Pink Squirrelfish · Pink-spotted Squirrelfish |
| 🏳️Catalan | Peix esquirol rosat |
| 🌍CES | pruhatec narůžovělý |
| 🇫🇷French | Poisson-écureuil rosé |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Sakura-ebisu · Sakuraebisu · サクラエビス |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Peixe-esquilo-rosado |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Двухпятнистая рыба-солдат |
| 🌍TAH | 'araoe |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adioryx tiereoides | Bleeker | 1853 | Synonym |
| Adioryx tieroides | Bleeker | 1853 | Synonym |
| Holocentrum tiereoides | Bleeker | 1853 | Synonym |
| Holocentrus pauciradiatus | Tortonese | 1939 | Synonym |
| Holocentrus tiereoides | Bleeker | 1853 | Synonym |
| Holocentrus tieroides | Bleeker | 1853 | Synonym |
| Sargocentron tieroides | Bleeker | 1853 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 6 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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