Sargocentron

Sargocentron
Temporal range: 55–0 Ma Early Eocene to Present [1]
Sargocentron coruscum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Beryciformes
Family: Holocentridae
Subfamily: Holocentrinae
Genus: Sargocentron
Fowler, 1904
Type species
Holocentrum leo
G. Cuvier, 1829

Sargocentron is a genus of squirrelfish (family Holocentridae) found in tropical parts of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, with the greatest species diversity near reefs in the Indo-Pacific.[2] Being largely or entirely nocturnal, they have relatively large eyes. Red and silvery colours dominate. The preopercle spines (near the gill-opening) are venomous and can give painful wounds.[3][4] Most have a maximum length of 15–25 cm (6–10 in), but S. iota barely reaches 8 cm (3 in), and S. spiniferum can reach more than 50 cm (20 in).[2]

  1. ^ Sepkoski, J.J.Jr (2002): A Compendium of Fossil Marine Animal Genera. Bulletins of American Paleontology, 363: 1-560.
  2. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Sargocentron". FishBase. October 2016 version.
  3. ^ Allen, G. 1999. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and south-east Asia. ISBN 0-7309-8363-3
  4. ^ Debelius, H. 1993. Indian Ocean Tropical Fish Guide. ISBN 3-927991-01-5