Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Neoniphon opercularis

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Class
  
Actinopterygii

Family
  
Holocentridae

Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Chordata

Order
  
Beryciformes

Subfamily
  
Holocentrinae

Neoniphon opercularis

Similar
  
Neoniphon, Neoniphon sammara, Neoniphon marianus, Sargocentron violaceum, Myripristis adusta

Neoniphon opercularis, also known as the blackfin squirrelfish, mouth-fin squirrelfish, or clearfin squirrelfish, is a species of squirrelfish found in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean from East Africa as far east as New Caledonia. It lives alone or in small groups in or near reefs and lagoons between 3 and 25 metres (9.8 and 82.0 ft) deep and can reach sizes of up to 35.0 centimetres (13.8 in) TL. It eats crabs and shrimps. Its dorsal fin is raised to scare off or startle predators. It also has a large venomous spine at the corner of its preopercle. It is relatively unaffected by commercial fishing, but is sometimes used as bait for tuna fisheries.

References

Neoniphon opercularis Wikipedia