Crown squirrelfish
Sargocentron diadema
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Crown squirrelfish
- Scientific
- Sargocentron diadema
- Dhivehi
- ސީޓު ރައިވެރިމަސްSeetu raiverimas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 17 cm (total length) (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 17 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 1 to 60 m (usually 2 to 30 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
A small squirrelfish with alternating broad red and narrow silvery white stripes, white streaks on the head and a dark red to black spiny dorsal fin crossed by a white line. It shelters under ledges by day and forages over sand and low reef at night for worms, small crabs and molluscs.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name seetu raiverimas (MRS 1997). MRS suggests it is the most abundant red-and-white striped squirrelfish in the Maldives.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Sargocentron-diadema.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=4699&GenusName=Sargocentron&SpeciesNa
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ސީޓު_ރައިވެރިމަސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Sargocentron_diadema_Réunion.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Seetu raiverimas' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) agrees: 'Raiverimas'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ސީޓު ރައިވެރިމަސް' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Rybarihi' 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.