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HOLOC Sargo 3
1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: HOLOCENTRIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Sargocentron rubrum (Forsskål, 1775)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Adioryx ruber (Forsskål, 1775) Holocentrus ruber: Smith & Smith, 1963
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Redcoat Fr - Marignan rouget Sp - Candil rubí NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body deep, 2.5 to 2.9 times in standard length. Dorsal profile of head convex; preopercular spine about 3/4 eye diameter; first suborbital bone with 1 or 2 short lateral spines near upper margin. Nasal fossa without spinules. Dorsal fin with 11 spines (the last spine shortest) and 13 or 14 (usually 13) soft fin rays; anal fin with 4 spines and 8 or 9 soft fin rays; pectoral fin rays 13 to 15 (usually 14). Lateral line scales 34 to 37; scale rows above lateral line to middle of spinous portion of dorsal fin 2.5; cheek with 5 diagonal rows of scales. Colour: body with alternate stripes of silvery white and brownish red; a triangular streak of brownish red on cheek from eye to corner of preopercle; often a concentration of pigment forming an elongate brown spot beneath soft portion of dorsal fin and a roundish blotch above base of soft portion of anal fin; spinous portion of dorsal fin red with a median band of cojoined whitish spots, the membranes tipped with white; no dark spot in pectoral axil; tips of second to fourth soft pelvic fin rays darker; upper and lower edges of caudal fin brownish red; rest of caudal fin and soft portions of dorsal and anal fins yellowish. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Sargocentron praslin: cheek with 4 diagonal rows of scales (5 in S. rubrum); also, a large dark brown spot at pectoral axil and front edge of pelvic fins dark. dark spot S. melanospilos: nasal fossa with 2 or more spinules on posterior margin; no spine on 1st suborbital bone; a blackish blotch at base of caudal as well as soft dorsal and anal fins; axil of pectoral fins black.
S. microstoma: body slender, depth 3.1 to 3.5 times in standard length; also, lateral line scales 49 to 56 (34 to 37 in S. rubrum). 4 rows S. seychellensis: tips of spinous dorsal fin membranes yellow in life red with white tips in S. rubrum); upper jaw 40 S. praslin to 45% in head length (37 to 42% in S. rubrum; longest dorsal spine 46 to 54% in head length (42 to 50% in S. rubrum); slightly more lateral line scales (35 to 39). Other Sargocentron species: colour different or spinules in nasal fossa or more lateral line scales.
Neoniphon species: last dorsal spine longer than preced-
ing one and close to soft part of dorsal fin.
Other Holocentridae: no sharp spine at angle of pre- opercle. 5 rows
S. rubrum SIZE:
Maximum: 32 cm; common to 20 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Sri Lanka, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea south to Durban and Madagascar; also, widespread in Indo-Pacific.
A shallow-water species usually found in protected habitats such as bays and lagoons, but less often around coral reefs than the closely related S. praslin.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
No special fishing areas.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species.
Caught by hook and line and in traps.
Marketed fresh. HOLOC Sargo 4
1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: HOLOCENTRIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Sargocentron spiniferum (Forsskål, 1775)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Adioryx spiniferus (Forsskål, 1775) Holocentrus spinidreus: Smith & Smith, 1963
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Sabre squirrelfish Fr - Marignan sabre Sp - Candil sable NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body deep, 2.5 to 2.6 times in standard length. Dorsal profile of head straight; lower jaw protruding when mouth closed; preopercle spine long, slightly longer than eye diameter. Nasal fossa without spinules. Dorsal fin with 11 spines (the last spine shortest) and 14 to 16 soft fin rays, the membranes of spinous portion only slightly incised; anal fin with 4 spines and 9 or 10 (usually 10) soft fin rays; pectoral fin rays 15. Lateral line scales 41 to 47; scale rows above lateral line to middle of soft portion of dorsal fin 3.5.
Colour: head and body red, darker dorsally than ventrally, the scales rimmed with silvery white; a large vertically elongate deep red spot behind eye; pectoral axil and region above pectoral fin base deep red; spinous portion of dorsal fin solid deep red; remaining fins yellowish. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: 2.5 scale rows Sargocentron caudimaculatum: 2.5 rows of scales above lateral line to middle of spinous portion of dorsal fin; nasal fossa with 1 or 2 spinules on anterior margin; spinous portion of dorsal fin not uniform deep red. S. violaceum: only 35 to 37 lateral line scales (41 to 47 in S. spiniferum); 2.5 scales above lateral line.
Other Sargocentron species: either color different (stripes on body, distinct markings on spinous dorsal fin) and/or only 2.5 scales above lateral line.
Neoniphon species: last dorsal spine longer than preced- ing one and close to soft part of dorsal fin. S. caudimaculatum Other Holocentridae: no sharp spine at angle of pre- 3.5 scale rows opercle.
SIZE:
Maximum: 45 cm; cornmon to 35 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Red Sea to southern Mozambique and Madagascar; also, widespread in Indo-Pacific. S. spiniferum
Largest of holocentrid fishes. Associated with coral reefs. Like other squirrelfishes, it tends to hide in caves by day and emerges for foraging with the onset of darkness.
Feeds mainly on crustaceans, especially crabs, but occasionally ingests small fishes.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
No special fishing areas.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species.
Caught by hook and line, in traps and by spearing.
Marketed fresh. Has been implicated in ciguatera poisoning.
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