Yellowstriped squirrelfish
Neoniphon aurolineatus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Yellowstriped squirrelfish
- Scientific
- Neoniphon aurolineatus
- Dhivehi
- ރަންރޮނގު ރައިވެރިމަސްRanrongu raivenmas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 25 cm (total length) (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 22 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 30 to 188 m (usually 40 to 70 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
A silvery pink squirrelfish with several yellow stripes along the body and a red and white spiny dorsal fin. It lives on outer reef slopes, rarely shallower than 40 m, sheltering in crevices and caves, and feeds on crustaceans at night.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name ranrongu raivenmas (MRS 1997). MRS notes it is the deepest-living of the four Neoniphon squirrelfish in the Maldives.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Neoniphon-aurolineatus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ރަންރޮނގު_ރައިވެރިމަސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Neoniphon_aurolineatus.png
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Ranrongu raivenmas' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ރަންރޮނގު ރައިވެރިމަސް' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FLAG: the source states no traditional name was recorded and this descriptive name was coined for the book; it is not an established fishermen's name.