Sammara squirrelfish
Neoniphon sammara
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Sammara squirrelfish
- Scientific
- Neoniphon sammara
- Dhivehi
- ރަތްތިކި ރައިވެރިމަސްRaiythiki raiverimas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 32 cm (total length); commonly 23 cm (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives common to 23 cm; max. 28 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 46 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
A silvery squirrelfish with reddish-brown spots forming lines along the body, a red stripe along the lateral line and a dark spot at the front of the spiny dorsal fin. It is common in shallow lagoons and reef flats, often among branching corals, and is one of the first squirrelfish to leave shelter at dusk to hunt small fish, crabs and shrimps. Its gill-cover spine is venomous.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name raiythiki raiverimas (MRS 1997).
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Neoniphon-sammara.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=4911&GenusName=Neoniphon&SpeciesName=
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ރަތްތިކި_ރައިވެރިމަސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Candil_samara_(Neoniphon_sammara),_mar_Rojo,_Egipto,_2023-0
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Raiythiki raiverimas' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) agrees: 'Raiy thiki raiverimas'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ރަތްތިކި ރައިވެރިމަސް' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Hudubarihi' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used. 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.