Common Name
Deepwater Squirrelfish
Year Described
Woods, 1955
Identification
Dorsal Fin: XI, 11-12
Anal Fin: IV, 7-8
Pectoral Fin: 13-15
Lateral Line Scales: 39-43
Vertebrae: 27 (total)
Gill Rakers: 16-17
Body oval with a flattened ventrum and convex dorsal profile. Head with small serrations on suborbital but no strong spines. Snout pointed with a convex frontal profile. Nasal bone without spines. Eye large. Preopercle with a strong spine at the angle. Opercle with 2 strong spines and additional serrations on margin. Mouth fairly small; reaching middle of orbit. Dorsal fins separate with strong notch. Rear dorsal, anal, and caudal fins pointed. Last dorsal spine shorter than second to last spine. Third anal spine strong. Scales obvious and rough.
Color
Body bright red, grading to yellow-orange on the flanks and silvery on the belly. There are several thin white stripes bordered by dark red that run parallel to body scales. Head red with two silvery stripes on lower head. Eye red and white. Spiny dorsal fin yellow with a median line of white triangles and white tips. Area between 1st-2nd dorsal spine black. Other fins pale red to translucent, with reddish lobes and white anterior margins.
Size
Maximum size to 16cm SL
Habitat
Inhabits shallow and offshore coral reefs, usually less than 120m depth.
Range
North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico, and the entire Caribbean Sea. Vagrant adults collected as far north as Long Island.
References
McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Volume 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press, Austin. i-viii + 1-1112.
Other Notes
Studies have suggested either this genus or Neoniphon for this species.