Animal Species:Samurai Squirrelfish, Sargocentron ittodai (Jordan & Fowler, 1903)

The Samurai Squirrelfish can be recognised by its colour pattern. The speices is nocturnal, venturing out of caves and from under ledges at night to forage for food.

Samurai Squirrelfish at North West Solitary Island

Samurai Squirrelfish at North West Solitary Island
Ian Shaw © Ian Shaw

Identification

The Samurai Squirrelfish has red and white stripes on the sides of the body. The head is red with a white stripe below the eye and a vertical stripe on the preopercular margin. The dorsal fin is bright red with white tips. There is dark pigment on the dorsal fin membrane between the first few spines and large white spots on the membrane of the lower part of the fin.

Size range

It grows to 17 cm in length.

Distribution

The Samurai Squirrelfish is found in coral reef and inshore waters of the tropical Indo-west Pacific. In Australia it is known from the east coast, from the northern Great Barrier Reef, northern New South Wales and the Sydney region.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Sargocentron ittodai

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Samurai Squirrelfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Other behaviours and adaptations

The Samurai Squirrelfish is a nocturnal species.

Classification

Species:
ittodai
Genus:
Sargocentron
Family:
Holocentridae
Order:
Beryciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Randall, J.E. 1998. Revision of the Indo-Pacific Squirrelfishes (Beryciformes: Holocentridae: Holocentrinae) of the genus Sargocentron, with descriptions of four new species. Indo-Pacific Fishes. 27: 105pp.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Samurai Squirrelfish, Sargocentron ittodai, Holocentridae, nocturnal, caves, ledges, complex pattern, stripes or bands, red, white, 10 cm - 30 cm, coral reef, inshore water, tropical water, Great Barrier Reef,