Neoniphon sammara (Forsskal, 1775)

English Name: Spotfin squirrelfish
Family: HOLOCENTRIDAE
Local Name: Raiythiki raiverimas
Order: Beryciformes
Size: Common to 23 cm; max. 28 cm
Specimen: MRS/0060/86

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Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 11-13 rays. Anal fin with 4 spines and 8 rays. Pectoral fin with 13-15 rays. Bodydepth 3.0-3.6 in standard length. Moderately elongated body. Preopercular spine broad. Snout pointed; lowerjaw strongly projecting.

Colour: Silvery with reddish-brown horizontally elongated spots forming lines on the body. Lateral line scales with darker spots. A dark spot at the front of spinuous dorsal fin. Caudal fin yellowish, with submarginal dark streaks on lobes.

Habitat and Biology: Associated with coral reefs, most often in shallow waters and lagoons. Feeds at night on crabs and small fish.

Distribution: Indo-Pacific.

Remarks: Neoniphon saniniara is one of the commonest squirrelfishes in the Indo-Pacific waters. Among the first to leave shelter with the advent of darkness for feeding. This species was previously recorded under the genus Ho/ocentrus in the Catalogue of Fishes of the Maldives, Vol.1, page 70.