Neoniphon vexillarium
Ecological Descriptors
|
Habitat |
Size |
Diet |
Behaviour |
Sex |
Co, R |
18 |
Cru, Mol, Noct |
I/ Sh |
F |
Description:
Adult :Usually dusky bronze-red (sometimes orange, gold or silver). Wide white/ silver stripes alternating with dusky stripes with dark borders. Anal and caudal fins bordered in brown/ red. Red spots between spines of anterior dorsal fin.
Juvenile: Has a dark patch at anterior end of dorsal fin, which may cause confusion with the Reef Squirrelfish (Neoniphon coruscum), but the body lines are not bright red and have dark borders..
Ecology
Nocturnal. Inhabits inshore reefs, shallow rocky coastlines and reef crests. Hides in small recesses, often in groups. Depth range of 0.3-16m. A carnivore feeding on shrimps/crabs, gastropods/bivalves, octopus/squid/cuttlefish, and sea stars/cucumbers/urchins.
Life Cycle
Reproduce by external fertilization pelagic eggs hatching into pelagic larvae. Typically they have two breeding seasons per year. Do not provide parental care.
Dusky Squirrelfish
Dusky Squirrelfish
188
Synonyms:
Sargocentron vexillarium
572
Dusky Squirrelfish Juvenile
574