Silverspot squirrelfish
Sargocentron caudimaculatum
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Silverspot squirrelfish
- Scientific
- Sargocentron caudimaculatum
- Dhivehi
- އަސްދާނު ރައިވެރިމަސްAsdhaanu raiverimas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 25 cm (total length); commonly 18 cm (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives common to 18 cm; max. 24 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 2 to 40 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
A red squirrelfish with silver-edged scales and a distinctive silvery white patch on the upper tail base, which may fade after death. It is common on outer reefs, lagoons and drop-offs, solitary or in groups, and feeds at night on crabs and shrimps. Its gill-cover spine is venomous.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name asdhaanu raiverimas (MRS 1997). MRS calls it one of the commonest squirrelfish in the Maldives.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Sargocentron-caudimaculatum.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=4907&GenusName=Sargocentron&SpeciesNa
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/އަސްދާނު_ރައިވެރިމަސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Pez_ardilla_de_cola_manchada_(Sargocentron_caudimaculatum),
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Asdhaanu raiverimas' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) agrees: 'Asdhaanu raiverimas'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'އަސްދާނު ރައިވެރިމަސް' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Raverimas' 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.