Sargocentron is a genus of squirrelfish found in tropical parts of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, with the greatest species diversity near reefs in the Indo-Pacific. Being largely or entirely nocturnal, they have relatively large eyes. Red and silvery colours dominate. The preopercle spines are venomous and can give painful wounds. 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).
Sargocentron caudimaculatum, the silverspot squirrelfish or whitetail squirrelfish, is a reef-associated member of the family Holocentridae. It is native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans from East Africa to Japan and northern Australia and as far east as the Marshall Islands. It lives near reefs, but can also be found in lagoons and drop-offs at depths between 2 and 40 metres. It is a nocturnal predator, feeding primarily on crabs and shrimps. It can reach sizes of up to 25.0 centimetres (9.8 in) TL. Although it is caught commercially and can be found in the aquarium trade, there are no known major threats to this species.
Sargocentron dorsomaculatum, also known as the spotfin squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish found in the western Pacific Ocean near the Ryukyu Islands, Pohnpei, Kosrae, the Caroline Islands, and Palau. It lives in shallow reefs at depths between 2 and 9 metres. Like other members of its genus, it is nocturnal and seeks shelter among corals and other structures. It can reach sizes of up to 19.7 centimetres (7.8 in) SL.
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.
Sargocentron melanospilos, the blackbotch squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish in the genus of Sargocentron. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region in the Red Sea; Zanzibar, Tanzania; from Aldabra and Seychelles to the Marshall Islands and American Samoa; north to Taiwan, southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, and south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and the Chesterfield Islands. It is a relatively uncommon inhabitant of rocky reefs and coral-rich areas, and is usually seen solitary, but it also forms schools when in deeper water or oceanic areas.
Sargocentron hormion is a species of Squirrelfish belonging to the genus of Sargocentron. It is reported to have been found in Pitcairn, the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. It inhabits rocky bottoms and coral reefs.
Sargocentron inaequalis, the lattice squirrelfish, also known as the roundfinned squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish in the genus of Sargocentron. It is found in the Indian Ocean in the Chagos Archipelago, Comoro Islands, Seychelles and Réunion, and in the Pacific Ocean in the Line Islands in Kiribati. It is an uncommon inhabitant of rocky coral reefs.
Sargocentron iota, the dwarf squirrelfish, is a nocturnal benthopelagic species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus of Sargocentron. It can be found in the Indo-Pacific region. It inhabits steep outer reef slopes.
Sargocentron ittodai, the samurai squirrelfish, is a nocturnal species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus of Sargocentron. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region, in the Red Sea and Natal, from South Africa to the Marquesan Islands, and north from Southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, south to New South Wales, Australia. It inhabits outer reef slopes. It can be found either solitary or in groups. It mainly feeds on benthic crabs and shrimps.
Sargocentron lepros, the spiny squirrelfish, is a nocturnal species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus of Sargocentron. It inhabits the outer reef slopes of oceanic islands, mostly in the Southern Pacific Ocean. It is normally found solitary.
Sargocentron macrosquamis, the big-scale squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus of Sargocentron. It can be found in the Western Indian Ocean, from the Red Sea to Mozambique, and in Seychelles, Maldives and the Chagos Islands.
Sargocentron marisrubri is a species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus of Sargocentron. It can be found in the West Indian Ocean in Egypt in the Gulf of Aqaba, also known as the Gulf of Elat, and in Sudan. It can be found in reefs in small aggregations.
Sargocentron megalops is a species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus of Sargocentron. It is endemic to Pitcairn in the Central Pacific Ocean. It possesses unusually large eyes, which it is named after, and is thought to be used for penetrating deeper water, suggesting 49m could be the near upper limit of the depth range of where it is found.
Sargocentron poco, the saddle squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus of Sargocentron. It is found in the Western Central Atlantic Ocean from the United States to the Cayman Islands, and in the Bahamas. It may also possibly be found in Cuba. It is likely to be more commonly found inhabiting shelf-edge reefs.
Sargocentron praslin, the dark-striped squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus Sargocentron. It can be found in the Indian Ocean and the West Pacific Ocean, from East Africa south to Mozambique and east to the Marshall Islands excluding the northern Marshall Islands and the Society Islands. It has also been introduced into Libya, Turkey and Cyprus and may also possibly be found in Egypt and Greece. It inhabits reef flats and shallow protected reefs, often in dead reef areas. It is secretive during the day.
Sargocentron seychellense, the yellow-tipped squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus Sargocentron. It is found in the Western Indian Ocean in Oman, the St. Brandon Shoals, Yemen in the Socotra Archipelago, Mauritius, Réunion, Comoros, Madagascar, the Chagos Archipelago and Seychelles, which it is named after. It inhabits shallow waters of coral reefs and rocky shores, and is often found between branching corals.
Sargocentron suborbitale, the tinsel squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus Sargocentron. It can be found in the East Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California to Ecuador including the Galapagos Islands. During the day, adults of the species hide in small caves or crevices of rocks. During the night, they feed on small crustaceans in the intertidal zone. It is oviparous.
Sargocentron tiereoides, the pink squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus Sargocentron. It can be found in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, from East Africa to the Line and Society Islands, north to Ryukyu, Japan and Wake Island, south to Vanuatu, through Micronesia. It inhabits outer reef slopes of deeper waters and has been collected on reef flat and lagoon patch reefs. It feeds on benthic crabs and shrimp at night.
Sargocentron wilhelmi, or Wilhelm's squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish belonging to the genus Sargocentron. It is named after ichthyologist Friedrich Wilhelm. It is endemic to Easter Island in the Southeast Pacific Ocean.
Myripristis tiki, the tiki squirrelfish, is a species of soldierfish belonging to the genus Myripristis. It can be found in the Pacific Ocean in the Cook Islands, Tonga, Pitcairn, the Cook Islands and Easter Island.
