132: HOLOCENTRIDAE (SQUIRRELFISHES, SOLDIERFISHES)
132.10 Sargocentron me/anospi/os
(Bleeker, 1858)
PLATE 19
Blackspot squirrelfish
Swartkol-soldaat
Holocentrum melanospilos Bleeker, 1858: 2 (Ambon). Holocentrus
cornUius (non Bleeker): Smith, 1955: 308; Smith & Smith, 1963: 9*.
Sargocentron melanospilos: Randall & Heemstra, 1985: 12*.
D XII12-14; A IV,9-1O; P 14; LL 33-36; oblique rows of cheek scales 5;
GR (6-8)+(10-12). Body depth 2.6-3.0, head length 2.7-3.1 in SL; edge of
nasal fossa with 1-4 spinules; preopercular spine length Yz or more of orbit
diameter.
Body with red and white stripes following the scale rows;
black blotch at base of soft D, A and C (black spot at base of
C and A may be faint or absent); black blotch in axil of p,
Attains 20 cm (25 cm in Japan). Red Sea and western Indian
Ocean (Seychelles, Aldabra and Zanzibar) to Japan,
Australia, New Caledonia and American Samoa; probably
occurs in our area.
132.11 Sargocentron microstoma
(Gunther, 1859)
Slender squirrelfish
Siank soldaat
Holocentrum microstoma Giinther, 1859: 34 (Ambon); 1875: 98*.
Sargocentron microstoma: Randall & Heemstra, 1985: 13*.
D XII12-14; A IV ,9-10; P 14-15; LL 48-55; oblique rows of cheek scales
5; GR (6-8)+(13-15). Body depth 3.0-3.5, head length 2.8-3.4 in SL;
preopercular spine less than Yz orbit diameter.
Body with red and white stripes of variable widths; head
reddish dorsally, silvery below; faint red band from eye to
angle of preopercle; spinous D white, with a submarginal
zone of red. Preserved fish usually with a dark blotch on 1st
2 D membranes. Attains 20 cm. Indo-West Pacific; apparently rare in the western Indian Ocean, where it is known
only from Chagos Archipelago, Astove Id, and the Maldives.
132.12 Sargocentron pras/in
(Lacepede, 1802)
PLATES 20 & 21
Dark-striped squirrelfish
Donkerstreep-soldaat
Perea praslin Lacepede, 1802: 397,418 (Port Praslin, New Britain).
Holocentrus rubrum (non Forsskftl): Smith, SFSA No. 295*. Holocentrus
ruber (non Forsskftl): Smith & Smith, 1963: 9*. Sargocentron praslin:
Randall & Heemstra, 1985: 14*.
D XIII2-13; A IV,8-9; P 13-15; LL 33-36; oblique rows of cheek scales
4; GR (6-8)+(10-12). Body depth 2.5-2.8, head length 2.6-3.0 in SL.
Upper edge of preorbital with a prominent, laterally projecting spine
below front edge of orbit, followed by a row of much smaller, retrorse
spinules.
Body white with longitudinal, dark brownish red stripes;
dark brown blotch at base of soft D; spinous D membrane
420
tips white, then a dark brownish red submarginal band, a
broad zone of whitish suffused with red, and dark red at
base of fin. Attains 25 cm. Indo-West Pacific; reported by
Smith (SFSA) to reach Durban, but there are no specimens
available from south of lbo, Mozambique (lSOS).
132.13 Sargocentron punctatissimum
(Cuvier, 1829)
PLATE 20
Speckled squirrelfish
Gespikkelde soldaat
Holocentrum lacteo-guttatum Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 214 (Indian
Ocean). Holocentrum punctatissimum Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 215
(Strong Id., Caroline Ids.). Holocentrus lacteoguttatus: Smith, SFSA No.
297*; 1955: 308; Smith & Smith, 1963: 9*. Sargocentron punctatissimum:
Randall & Heemstra, 1985: 15*.
D XIII2-14; A IV,9; P 14-16; LL 41-47; oblique rows of cheek scales 5;
GR (5-7)+(10-12). Body depth 2.7-3.1, head length 3.0-3.5 in SL; interorbital shelf present on anterodorsal edge of orbit; nasal fossa without
spines; preopercular spine about Yz orbit diameter.
Body reddish silver, iridescent bluish dorsally; scales
finely dotted with black; spinous D silvery white, with
broad red margin. Attains 16 cm. Red Sea and Indo-Pacific
(east to Hawaiian Ids. and Easter Id.); south to Algoa Bay.
Occurs along rocky shores and coral reefs exposed to wave
action; often seen in very shallow water.
132.13 Sargocentron punctatissimum: dorsal view of head of 9 em specimen.
132.14 Sargocentron rubrum
(Forsskal, 1775)
PLATE 20
Russet squirrelfish
Rooibruin soldaat
Sciaena rubra Forsskal, 1775: 48 (Red Sea). Sargocentron rubrum:
Randall & Heemstra, 1985: 16*.
D XII12-14; A IV,8-1O; P 13-15; LL 34-38; oblique rows of cheek scales
5; GR (6-8)+(9-12). Body depth 2.4-2.8, head length 2.7-2.9 in SL; a
large, laterally projecting, slightly retrorse spine (sometimes 2) at upper
edge of pre orbital (below front edge of orbit) followed by a row of much
smaller spinules; nasal fossa usually without spinules; no spines on nasal
bones.
Body with subequal stripes of brownish red and silvery
white; spinous D dark red with a large, quadrangular,
132.10 Sargocentron me/anospi/os
(Bleeker, 1858)
PLATE 19
Blackspot squirrelfish
Swartkol-soldaat
Holocentrum melanospilos Bleeker, 1858: 2 (Ambon). Holocentrus
cornUius (non Bleeker): Smith, 1955: 308; Smith & Smith, 1963: 9*.
Sargocentron melanospilos: Randall & Heemstra, 1985: 12*.
D XII12-14; A IV,9-1O; P 14; LL 33-36; oblique rows of cheek scales 5;
GR (6-8)+(10-12). Body depth 2.6-3.0, head length 2.7-3.1 in SL; edge of
nasal fossa with 1-4 spinules; preopercular spine length Yz or more of orbit
diameter.
Body with red and white stripes following the scale rows;
black blotch at base of soft D, A and C (black spot at base of
C and A may be faint or absent); black blotch in axil of p,
Attains 20 cm (25 cm in Japan). Red Sea and western Indian
Ocean (Seychelles, Aldabra and Zanzibar) to Japan,
Australia, New Caledonia and American Samoa; probably
occurs in our area.
132.11 Sargocentron microstoma
(Gunther, 1859)
Slender squirrelfish
Siank soldaat
Holocentrum microstoma Giinther, 1859: 34 (Ambon); 1875: 98*.
Sargocentron microstoma: Randall & Heemstra, 1985: 13*.
D XII12-14; A IV ,9-10; P 14-15; LL 48-55; oblique rows of cheek scales
5; GR (6-8)+(13-15). Body depth 3.0-3.5, head length 2.8-3.4 in SL;
preopercular spine less than Yz orbit diameter.
Body with red and white stripes of variable widths; head
reddish dorsally, silvery below; faint red band from eye to
angle of preopercle; spinous D white, with a submarginal
zone of red. Preserved fish usually with a dark blotch on 1st
2 D membranes. Attains 20 cm. Indo-West Pacific; apparently rare in the western Indian Ocean, where it is known
only from Chagos Archipelago, Astove Id, and the Maldives.
132.12 Sargocentron pras/in
(Lacepede, 1802)
PLATES 20 & 21
Dark-striped squirrelfish
Donkerstreep-soldaat
Perea praslin Lacepede, 1802: 397,418 (Port Praslin, New Britain).
Holocentrus rubrum (non Forsskftl): Smith, SFSA No. 295*. Holocentrus
ruber (non Forsskftl): Smith & Smith, 1963: 9*. Sargocentron praslin:
Randall & Heemstra, 1985: 14*.
D XIII2-13; A IV,8-9; P 13-15; LL 33-36; oblique rows of cheek scales
4; GR (6-8)+(10-12). Body depth 2.5-2.8, head length 2.6-3.0 in SL.
Upper edge of preorbital with a prominent, laterally projecting spine
below front edge of orbit, followed by a row of much smaller, retrorse
spinules.
Body white with longitudinal, dark brownish red stripes;
dark brown blotch at base of soft D; spinous D membrane
420
tips white, then a dark brownish red submarginal band, a
broad zone of whitish suffused with red, and dark red at
base of fin. Attains 25 cm. Indo-West Pacific; reported by
Smith (SFSA) to reach Durban, but there are no specimens
available from south of lbo, Mozambique (lSOS).
132.13 Sargocentron punctatissimum
(Cuvier, 1829)
PLATE 20
Speckled squirrelfish
Gespikkelde soldaat
Holocentrum lacteo-guttatum Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 214 (Indian
Ocean). Holocentrum punctatissimum Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 215
(Strong Id., Caroline Ids.). Holocentrus lacteoguttatus: Smith, SFSA No.
297*; 1955: 308; Smith & Smith, 1963: 9*. Sargocentron punctatissimum:
Randall & Heemstra, 1985: 15*.
D XIII2-14; A IV,9; P 14-16; LL 41-47; oblique rows of cheek scales 5;
GR (5-7)+(10-12). Body depth 2.7-3.1, head length 3.0-3.5 in SL; interorbital shelf present on anterodorsal edge of orbit; nasal fossa without
spines; preopercular spine about Yz orbit diameter.
Body reddish silver, iridescent bluish dorsally; scales
finely dotted with black; spinous D silvery white, with
broad red margin. Attains 16 cm. Red Sea and Indo-Pacific
(east to Hawaiian Ids. and Easter Id.); south to Algoa Bay.
Occurs along rocky shores and coral reefs exposed to wave
action; often seen in very shallow water.
132.13 Sargocentron punctatissimum: dorsal view of head of 9 em specimen.
132.14 Sargocentron rubrum
(Forsskal, 1775)
PLATE 20
Russet squirrelfish
Rooibruin soldaat
Sciaena rubra Forsskal, 1775: 48 (Red Sea). Sargocentron rubrum:
Randall & Heemstra, 1985: 16*.
D XII12-14; A IV,8-1O; P 13-15; LL 34-38; oblique rows of cheek scales
5; GR (6-8)+(9-12). Body depth 2.4-2.8, head length 2.7-2.9 in SL; a
large, laterally projecting, slightly retrorse spine (sometimes 2) at upper
edge of pre orbital (below front edge of orbit) followed by a row of much
smaller spinules; nasal fossa usually without spinules; no spines on nasal
bones.
Body with subequal stripes of brownish red and silvery
white; spinous D dark red with a large, quadrangular,