Big Eyed Squirrelfish

Soft dorsal and anal fins covered with scales (Ref. 13608). Dark brown vertical bar runs along gill opening to pectoral fin (Ref. 26938). Body deep, compressed and robust (Ref. 37108). Body reddish above, paling to silvery below. Spinous dorsal fin with red and white markings. Edges of all fins are white. Preopercular spine not prominent. Lobes of caudal, soft dorsal and anal fins pointed (Ref. 7251).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Analspines: 4; Analsoft rays: 13 - 14

Found from shallow coral reefs to offshore deeper waters (Ref. 3724). A nocturnal species aggregating around coral reefs and deeper rocky reefs (Ref. 3724). Feeds mainly on planktonic organisms (Ref. 3724). Carnivore (Ref. 57616). Occasionally found swimming upside down (Ref. 9710). Also cleaned by Thalassoma noronhanum observed at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago off northeastern Brazil (Ref. 36301).

Found from shallow coral reefs to offshore deeper waters (Ref. 3724). A nocturnal species aggregating around coral reefs and deeper rocky reefs (Ref. 3724). Feeds mainly on planktonic organisms (Ref. 3724). Occasionally found swimming upside down (Ref. 9710). Marketed fresh but not popular as a food fish (Ref. 5217).

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family