Pink squirrelfish
(Sargocentron tiereoides)
Image source: Mark Rosenstein | inaturalist.org
General data
The pink squirrelfish 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.
Max length : 19.5 cm TL
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.
