Spotfin Squirrelfish

Neoniphon sammara is a species squirrelfish found in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean from East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands.

Description

Coloration: Pinkish silvery above, silvery below; a dark red to black spot on each scale. Reddish stripe along LL. Outer margin of caudal lobes and anterior soft rays of dorsal and anal fins reddish; pectoral fins pale pink, pelvic fins white Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8.

It can grow up to 32.0 centimetres (12.6 in) TL in length, though its common length is only 23.0 centimetres (9.1 in) TL. Like N. opercularis, it has a venomous spine on its preopercle.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, the Ogasawara and Hawaiian islands, south to northern Australia and Lord Howe Island.

Habitat

N. sammara lives alone or in small groups on seagrass beds and hard substrates in reef flats and lagoons. It can be found at depths between 0 and 46 metres (0 and 151 ft). Of its genus, it is the most likely to be found in shallow waters and it is often associated with Acropora corals, which it will use as shelter during the day.

It feeds on shrimps and small crabs and fish at night.

N. sammara is not a commonly-eaten fish, but is common in the Indian aquarium trade. It can also be used as bait for tuna fisheries.