Neoniphon opercularis (Valenciennes 1831)

English Name: Blackfin squirrelfish
Family: HOLOCENTRIDAE
Local Name: Kalhu kothari raiverimas
Order: Beryciformes
Size: Common to 23 cm; max. 32 cm
Specimen: MRS/0198/88

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Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 12-14 rays. Anal fin with 4 spines and 8-9 (usually 9) rays. Pectoral fin with 13-15 rays. Body depth 2.9-3.3 in standard length. Body moderately elongate. Lower jaw strongly projecting, last dorsal spine longer than the penultimate spine and further away from it than from the first ray. Corner of preopercle with sharp spine.

Colour: Silvery gold with a pinkish tinge given by red spot on each scale. Broad middle zone of spinuous portion of dorsal fin black; base and tips white.

Habitat and Biology: A reef species found in shallow to a depth of 20 m. Nocturnal in habit and shelters among the branches of large stout branching corals during the day.

Distribution: Indo-Pacific.

Remarks: Neoniphon opercularis is the largest and perhaps the commonest species of the genus in the Maldives. It is readily distinguished from other Neoniphon by the extensive black on the dorsal fin.