HomeMarine aquarium fishOther marine fishHawaiian squirrelfish Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) Scientific name: Sargocentron xantherythrum Jordan & Evermann, 1903 The Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) is a marine fish of the family Holocentridae. Native range: Eastern Central Pacific, known only from the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 9. Body with alternating about stripes of red and silvery white; head red; operculum with silvery reflections, a white streak from above edge of upper jaw to the corner of pre, and a narrow white band on posterior edge of preopercle. Five oblique scale rows on cheek; body depth 2.7-3.1 in SL; head length (HL) 2.55-2.75 in SL; snout length 3.85-4.15 in HL; interorbital width 4.8-5.15 in HL; maxilla extending from below front of the pupil nearly to center of the eye, upper jaw length 2.55-2.8 in HL; premaxillary groove at least to a vertical at front edge of the orbit; rounded anterior end of nasal; medial margin of nasal bone spineless; small nasal fossa without spinules on margin; slight ridge along the upper edge of suborbital bones smooth anteriorly, slightly serrate below posterior part of eye; preopercular spine, 5.4-7.1 in HL; 2 opercular spines (1 specimen with a large operSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSargocentron xantherythrumFamilyHolocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes)OrderBeryciformes (Sawbellies)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length17.0Common length14.0Depth range1–217 m (3–712 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 217 mClimateTropicalDistributionEastern Central Pacific: known only from the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More other marine fishBarred sandperchParapercis nebulosaSpeckled sandperchParapercis hexophtalmaRedspotted sandperchParapercis schauinslandiiSpotted coral croucherCaracanthus maculatusLong-barbel goatfishParupeneus macronemusHawaiian bigeyePriacanthus meekiSee all other marine fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026