Kingdom Animalia Family Holocentridae Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Class Actinopterygii Subfamily Holocentrinae Genus Neoniphon Order Beryciformes | |
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Similar Neoniphon, Sargocentron, Sargocentron spiniferum, Crown squirrelfish, Myripristis kuntee | ||
Sammara squirrelfish neoniphon sammara
Neoniphon sammara, also known as the sammara squirrelfish, the blood-spot squirrelfish, the spotfin squirrelfish, the armed squirrel-fish, and the javelin squirrelfish, is a species squirrelfish found in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean from East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands. It feeds on shrimps and small crabs and fish at night and can grow up to 32.0 centimetres (12.6 in) TL in length, though its common length is only 23.0 centimetres (9.1 in) TL. Like N. opercularis, it has a venomous spine on its preopercle.
Contents
neoniphon sammara fish in red sea egypt
Habitat
N. sammara lives alone or in small groups on seagrass beds and hard substrates in reef flats and lagoons. It can be found at depths between 0 and 46 metres (0 and 151 ft). Of its genus, it is the most likely to be found in shallow waters and it is often associated with Acropora corals, which it will use as shelter during the day.
Commercial use
N. sammara is not a commonly-eaten fish, but is common in the Indian aquarium trade. It can also be used as bait for tuna fisheries.