---
title: Squirrelfishes (Holocentrinae)
scientific_name: Holocentrinae
common_name: Squirrelfishes
rank: Subfamily
published: 2024-11-19T18:41:51.573Z
updated: 2026-08-03T21:19:17.781Z
tags: Squirrelfishes, Holocentrinae, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes
---

# Squirrelfishes (*Holocentrinae*)

## Quick facts

- **Rank:** Subfamily
- **Scientific name:** Holocentrinae
- **Body shape:** Oval - Egg-shaped body, deeper than it is thick - damselfishes, surgeonfishes.
- **Species listed here:** 12

## How to recognise this group

- oval, somewhat compressed body with very large eyes
- prominent red or reddish-pink body coloration
- spiny dorsal fin, often raised and fan-shaped
- inactive during day, hiding in reef crevices or under ledges

Squirrelfishes are marine fishes measuring 10-30 cm (4-12 in) long. They have large eyes and display prominent red or reddish-pink body coloration, often accented by white or yellow stripes and spots. Many species have strong spines on their gill covers and dorsal fins; their common name alludes to the ability of some species to raise the dorsal fin into a large, fan-shaped structure for communication and defense.

These fishes are primarily nocturnal predators, hunting small crustaceans, fish, and other invertebrates at night. During daylight hours, they shelter within coral reefs, under ledges, in caves, or in rocky crevices. They typically occur from the shallow reef crest down to depths of 50 m (165 ft) or more on reef slopes. Some species produce clicking sounds through their swim bladder, believed to be for communication.


## Species (12)

- [Blotcheye Soldierfish (Myripristis murdjan)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/blotcheye-soldierfish)
- [Crown Squirrellfish (Sargocentron diadema)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/crown-squirrellfish)
- [Largescale Squirrelfish (Sargocentron cf. macrosquamis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/largescale-squirrelfish)
- [Longjawed Squirrelfish (Sargocentron spiniferum)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/longjawed-squirrelfish)
- [Peppered Squirrelfish (Sargocentron punctatissimum)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/peppered-squirrelfish)
- [Red Sea Squirrelfish (Sargocentron marisrubri)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/red-sea-squirrelfish)
- [Redcoat Squirrelfish (Sargocentron rubrum)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/redcoat-squirrelfish)
- [Sammara Squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/sammara-squirrelfish)
- [Samurai Squirrelfish (Sargocentron ittodai)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/samurai-squirrelfish)
- [Tailspot Squirrelfish (Sargocentron caudimaculatum)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/tailspot-squirrelfish)
- [Yellowfin Soldierfish (Myripristis chryseres)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/yellowfin-soldierfish)
- [Yellowtip Soldierfish (Myripristis xanthacra)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes/yellowtip-soldierfish)

---

*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/squirrelfishes)*
*Updated: August 3, 2026*