denise
08-12-2008, 04:38 PM
Squirrelfishes are a 60 member family group of nocturnal, large-eyed red fish, that possess a long rear dorsal fin similar to a squirrel's tail. Many members of the family have a large spine on the edge of their opercle, which can inflict a serious wound. The majority of them live amongst shallow tropical coral reefs, however some species occur at depths of 1000 feet!
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/Squirellfish.jpg
Young squirrelfish, Halocentrus adscensionis, West Palm Beach
Photo courtesy Bob Rosell
They spend most of their day tucked away amongst ledges, crevices and cracks in tropical coral reefs. By night these carnivorous squirrelfish move away from the safety of the reef on the hunt for crab, shrimp, mollusks, echinoderms and small fish in sandy areas. Their large eyes give them excellent night vision, and their vivid red coloring offers camouflage from any potential predators.
Squirrelfish are best known for the distinctive grumbling noises they produce, made by contracting the muscles around their swim bladder. These noises, not usually heard by divers, are extremely important in communication between squirrelfishes.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/LongspineSquirrelfish.jpg
Longspine squirelfish, Halocentrus rufus, hunting under the cover of darkness, Boynton Ledge
Soldierfish are also grouped into this family, as they also have the distinctive red color, relatively large eyes and are nocturnal.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/BlackbarSoldierfish.jpg
Blackbar soldierfish, Myriprisis jacobus, hiding in a crevice by day, DelRay Ledge.
Photo courtesy of Bob Rosell
Both squirrelfish and soldierfish have large squirrel-like eyes, and a long, pronounced rear dorsal fins that sticks up like a squirrels tail. Most of these fish have thin, white and occasionally yellow-gold body stripes (except the soldierfish).
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/blackbarsoldierfishrob_4.jpg
Blackbar soldierfish, Myriprisis jacobus, Pompano Beach.
Photo courtesy of Robert Palmer
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/Squirellfish.jpg
Young squirrelfish, Halocentrus adscensionis, West Palm Beach
Photo courtesy Bob Rosell
They spend most of their day tucked away amongst ledges, crevices and cracks in tropical coral reefs. By night these carnivorous squirrelfish move away from the safety of the reef on the hunt for crab, shrimp, mollusks, echinoderms and small fish in sandy areas. Their large eyes give them excellent night vision, and their vivid red coloring offers camouflage from any potential predators.
Squirrelfish are best known for the distinctive grumbling noises they produce, made by contracting the muscles around their swim bladder. These noises, not usually heard by divers, are extremely important in communication between squirrelfishes.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/LongspineSquirrelfish.jpg
Longspine squirelfish, Halocentrus rufus, hunting under the cover of darkness, Boynton Ledge
Soldierfish are also grouped into this family, as they also have the distinctive red color, relatively large eyes and are nocturnal.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/BlackbarSoldierfish.jpg
Blackbar soldierfish, Myriprisis jacobus, hiding in a crevice by day, DelRay Ledge.
Photo courtesy of Bob Rosell
Both squirrelfish and soldierfish have large squirrel-like eyes, and a long, pronounced rear dorsal fins that sticks up like a squirrels tail. Most of these fish have thin, white and occasionally yellow-gold body stripes (except the soldierfish).
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/blackbarsoldierfishrob_4.jpg
Blackbar soldierfish, Myriprisis jacobus, Pompano Beach.
Photo courtesy of Robert Palmer