Bigscale squirrelfish (Sargocentron macrosquamis)

Scientific name: Sargocentron macrosquamis Golani, 1984

The Bigscale squirrelfish (Sargocentron macrosquamis) is a marine fish of the family Holocentridae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Red Sea to Mozambique and the oceanic islands.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10. Body red with silvery reflections on many scales, shading to silvery white on lower part of the head, thorax, and anterior abdomen, scale edge light red; 5-6 oblique scale rows on cheek; body depth 2.3-2.7 in SL; head length (HL) 2.45-2.65 in SL; snout length 3.6-4.0 in HL; interorbital width 5.0-5.4 in HL; mouth terminal to slightly inferior; maxilla extending to a vertical at front edge of pupil or slightly before or beyond to it; upper jaw length 2.85-3.2 in HL; anterior end of nasal bone rounded; moderately large, spineless nasal fossa; upper surface of nasal bone between nasal fossa and edge of premaxillary groove with a retrorse spine; median edge of nasal bone with a retrorse spine and sometimes another anterior to it; preopercular spine 1.6-2.2 in orbit diameter, 4.75-6.4 in HL; spinules on posterior margin of preopercle 31 (on a 4.6 cm SL specimen) to 33-46 (6.25-

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Sargocentron macrosquamis
Family: Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes)
Order: Beryciformes (Sawbellies)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 9.0
Depth range: 4–22 m (13–72 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 4 - 22 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Mozambique and the oceanic islands.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026