The Sammara Squirrelfish – Neoniphon sammara is a species of fish belonging to the Squirrelfish family, Holocentridae. This fish is easily recognizable due to its distinctive red and white coloration.
Description & Characteristics
The Sammara Squirrelfish, Neoniphon sammara, has a distinctive appearance that sets it apart from other fish species. Its body is elongated and compressed, with a slightly pointed head and a large mouth. The most striking feature is its color pattern: a vibrant red body with white markings that resemble spots, stripes, or bands, depending on the individual. Its eyes are large and black, and its fins are often tinged with a reddish hue.
The Sammara Squirrelfish can reach a maximum size of 32.0 cm. Its body is covered with small, cycloid scales, which are thin and overlapping. These scales provide protection and help the fish maintain its body shape. The fish has a single dorsal fin, with a long, spiny anterior portion and a soft, rayed posterior portion.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Sammara Squirrelfish, Neoniphon sammara, is a common inhabitant of a variety of marine habitats. This species prefers to live in Subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, deep zone of the oceans from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. neritic. areas. They are often found in coral reefs, rocky bottoms, and seagrass beds. These habitats provide the fish with ample food sources and shelter.
The geographic distribution of this species is widespread, encompassing regions in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. This fish is a common sight in these areas, inhabiting the diverse ecosystems that characterize these regions.
Taxonomy
The Sammara Squirrelfish, Neoniphon sammara, belongs to the Class: Teleostei, Order: Holocentriformes, and Family: Holocentridae. The family Holocentridae includes approximately 90 species distributed worldwide. These fishes are characterized by their vibrant colors, large eyes, and prominent spines on their dorsal and anal fins.
Feeding
The Sammara Squirrelfish, Neoniphon sammara, is a carnivorous fish, its diet consists primarily of a wide range of crustaceans including crabs, shrimps, and krill, as well as small fish, such as mysids. It is an opportunistic feeder, utilizing its sharp teeth to capture and consume its prey. The fish is also known to scavenge for food, consuming dead or decaying organisms.
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