Holocentridae

Holocentridae Temporal range: Late Cretaceous–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Holocentrus adscensionis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Beryciformes
Suborder:	Holocentroidei
Family:	Holocentridae J. Richardson, 1846
Subfamilies and genera[1]
Holocentrinae Holocentrus Neoniphon Sargocentron Myripristinae Corniger Myripristis Ostichthys Plectrypops Pristilepis

Holocentridae is a family of ray-finned fish, the only family of the suborder Holocentroidei within the order Beryciformes.^[1] The members of the subfamily Holocentrinae are typically known as squirrelfish, while the members of Myripristinae typically are known as soldierfish.^[2] In Hawaii, they are known by the Japanese name mempachi/menpachi (メンパチ) or the Hawaiian ʻūʻū.

They are found in tropical parts of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, with the greatest species richness near reefs in the Indo-Pacific. Most are found at depths from the shoreline to 100 m (330 ft), but some, notably the members of the genus Ostichthys, are generally found far deeper. Being largely or entirely nocturnal, they have relatively large eyes. During the day, they typically remain hidden in crevices, caves, or under ledges.^[3] Red and silvery colours dominate.^[2][4] The preopercle spines (near the gill opening) of the members of the subfamily Holocentrinae are venomous, and can give painful wounds.^[5][6] Most have a maximum length of 15–35 cm (6–14 in), but Sargocentron iota barely reaches 8 cm (3 in), and S. spiniferum and Holocentrus adscensionis can reach more than 50 cm (19.5 in). The squirrelfishes mainly feed on small fishes and benthic invertebrates, while the soldierfishes typically feed on zooplankton.^[6] The larvae are pelagic, unlike the adults, and can be found far out to sea.^[3]

Timeline

Definitive holocentroid fishes first appear in the earliest part of the Cenozoic and boast a modest fossil record.^[7]

References

1. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Holocentridae". FishBase. October 2024 version.
2. Lieske, Ewald, & Robert Myers. 1999. Coral Reef Fishes - Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean including the Red Sea. 2nd edition. ISBN 0-691-00481-1
3. Paxton, John R. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 161. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
4. Debelius, Helmut. 1993. Indian Ocean Tropical Fish Guide. ISBN 3-927991-01-5
5. Randall, John E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific.. ISBN 0-8248-2698-1
6. Allen, Gerry. 1999. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and south-east Asia. ISBN 0-7309-8363-3
7. Andrews, J. V.; Schein, J. P.; Friedman, M. (2023). "An earliest Paleocene squirrelfish (Teleostei: Beryciformes: Holocentroidea) and its bearing on the timescale of holocentroid evolution". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 21 (1). Bibcode:2023JSPal..2168571A. doi:10.1080/14772019.2023.2168571.

• Luczkovich, JJ; Keusenkothen, M (2007). "Behavior and Sound Production by Longspine Squirrelfish Holocentrus rufus During Playback of Predator and Conspecific Sounds". In: NW Pollock and JM Godfrey (Eds.) the Diving for Science…2007. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (Twenty–sixth annual Scientific Diving Symposium). Dauphin Island, Ala.: American Academy of Underwater Sciences. ISBN 978-0-9800423-1-3. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-14.

External links

• "Holocentridae". The Encyclopedia of Life.