HomeFish encyclopediaRay-finned fishesSawbelliesSquirrelfishes, soldierfishesDark-striped squirrelfish Dark-striped squirrelfish (Sargocentron praslin) Scientific name: Sargocentron praslin Lacep?de, 1802 The Dark-striped squirrelfish (Sargocentron praslin) is a marine fish of the family Holocentridae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Body with dark brown to brownish red stripes, alternating with silvery white stripes. The upper 2 dark stripes often ending in an elongate dark brown spot at the base of the soft portion of the dorsal fin; the third curving downward to end at mid-base of caudal fin; the 4th ending just before the caudal peduncle; the 5th and 6th stripes converging posteriorly on lower edge of caudal peduncle; 7th and 8th ending in a dark blotch at the rear base of soft part of anal fin. Four oblique scale rows on cheek; body depth 2.6-2.8 in SL; head length (HL) 2.65-2.9 in SL; short and blunt snout, length 4.4-5.1 in HL; interorbital width 3.9-4.4 in HL; mouth terminal to slightly inferior, maxilla often extending to below center of the eye, upper jaw length 2.35-2.55 in HL; premaxillary groove often reaching above anterior edge of orbit; anterior end of nasal bone ending in a spine; surSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSargocentron praslinFamilyHolocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes)OrderBeryciformes (Sawbellies)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length32.0Common length20.0Depth range1–5 m (3–16 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 5 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionIndo-West Pacific: East Africa south to Mozambique (but not the Red Sea) and east to the Marshall, except the northern Marshalls and Society islands. Recorded from the Mediterranean.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026