Speckled squirrelfish
Sargocentron punctatissimum
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Speckled squirrelfish
- Scientific
- Sargocentron punctatissimum
- Dhivehi
- ރަތްކޮތަރި ރައިވެރިމަސްRaiykothari raiverimas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 23 cm (total length) (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 16 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 183 m (usually 1 to 30 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
A small, reddish-silver squirrelfish with a bluish sheen above, finely black-dotted scales and a pale spiny dorsal fin with a red edge. It lives in surge-swept crevices and tunnels along the reef margin, often in very shallow water and tide pools, and spreads out at night over sand and reef to feed.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name raiykothari raiverimas (MRS 1997).
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Sargocentron-punctatissimum.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ރަތްކޮތަރި_ރައިވެރިމަސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Sargocentron_punctatissimum.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Raiykothari raiverimas' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ރަތްކޮތަރި ރައިވެރިމަސް' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Barihi' 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.