Violet Squirrelfish

Body color brownish to purplish red; head primarily red; upper part of opercular membrane blackish; each scale with vertical silvery white line. Four to five oblique scale rows on cheek; body depth 2.3-2.7 in SL; head length (HL) 2.4-2.85 in SL; snout length 3.75-4.35 in HL; maxilla extending posteriorly from below front of pupil to below center of the eye, upper jaw length 2.7-2.85 in HL; premaxillary groove about a vertical at front edge of orbit; anterior end of nasal bone with 2 diverging spines; medial margin of nasal bone spineless (however, a Seychelles specimen 20.6 cm has one small spinule on the edge); 1-3 spinules on anterior and posterior margins of nasal fossa; suborbital bones' upper edge smooth anteriorly, becoming slightly serrate posteriorly (serrae as recumbent spinules); adults' preopercular spines long, 2.85-3.8 in HL (at least equal to orbit diameter). 2 opercular spines with the lower nearly as long or equal to the upper spine; 4th dorsal spine longest, .5-2.95 in HL; membranes of spinous dorsal fin not incised; 3rd anal spine 1.5-1.7 in HL (Ref. 27370). Has a high body similar to S. spiniferum, but differs in coloration and does not get as large.

Helicometra Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 15; Analspines: 4; Analsoft rays: 9

Uncommon in atoll reef flats, lagoon patch reefs, and steep outer reef slopes. Strictly nocturnal, feeds mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps.

Uncommon in atoll reef flats, lagoon patch reefs, and steep outer reef slopes. Solitary and secretive species, occasionally seen in small crevices in clear water habitats (Ref. 48635). Strictly nocturnal, feeds mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps. Spine of preopercle is venomous. Usually among rich coral growth (Ref 90102).

Sargocentron violaceum, the violet squirrelfish, is a nocturnal species of squirrelfish in the genus Sargocentron. It can be found in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean from Aldabra and the Laccadive Islands to the Society Islands, north to Ryukyu, Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef, and from Palau to the eastern Caroline and Marshall Islands in Micronesia. It is an uncommon inhabitant atoll reef flats, lagoon patch reefs, and steep outer reef slopes. It is a solitary and secretive species and can occasionally be seen in small crevices in clear water habitats. It is usually among rich coral growth and it mainly feeds on benthic crabs and shrimps.

Uncommon in atoll reef flats, lagoon patch reefs, and steep outer reef slopes to a depth of at least 20 m. Feeds mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps at night. Spine of preopercle is venomous.