Fanfin Soldier

Head and body red, edges of scales silver; silvery white spot anterodorsally on caudal peduncle (often disappears after death); spinous part of dorsal fin mottled light red, the outer part of the membranes bright red (Ref. 4201). 4-5 oblique rows of scales on cheek. Body depth 2.3-2.7 in SL; head length 2.3-2.8 in SL; snout length 3.6-4.0 in head length. Maxilla extending posteriorly from front of pupil to the center of eye; upper jaw length 2.7-2.95 in head length; premaxillary groove reaching about front edge of orbit; anterior end of nasal bone with 2 short diverging spines; spine at edge of premaxillary groove absent; anterior edge of nasal fossa with 1 (rarely 2) spinule; upper edge of first suborbital bone not serrated (Ref. 27370).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Analspines: 4; Analsoft rays: 8 - 9

One of the most common of the squirrelfishes that occurs in outer reef areas, also encountered in lagoons and dropoffs from less than 2 to 40 m; either solitary or in groups. Nocturnal, feeds mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps. Also Ref. 9137, 58534.

One of the most common of the squirrelfishes that occurs in outer reef areas, also encountered in lagoons and drop-offs from less than 2 to 40 m; either solitary or in groups (Ref. 27370). Nocturnal, feeds mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps.

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

廣泛分布於印度-太平洋區之溫熱帶海域， 西起紅海與東非到馬紹爾群島與法屬玻里尼西亞，北至日本，南至澳洲。除了西部外臺灣各地皆有分布。

一般以一支釣及延繩釣的方法捕獲。魚肉白，但質地較爛，煮湯時肉易散開且多溶解油質，因此適合抹鹽油煎食用。唯須注意其內臟可能累積熱帶海魚毒。而它的鱗片及棘刺尖利，需小心刺傷。在水族館中也有人看上它鮮紅的體色，將它飼養做為觀賞魚。

體呈橢圓形，中等側扁。頭部具黏液囊，外露骨骼多有脊紋。眼大。口端位，裂斜。下頜不凸出於上頜。前上頜骨的凹槽大約達眼窩的前緣；鼻骨的前端有兩個分開的短棘；鼻窩有1個(少數2個)小刺。前鰓蓋骨後下角具ㄧ強棘；眶下骨的上緣不具鋸齒狀。體被大型櫛鱗；側線完全，側線鱗數40-43，側線至背鰭硬棘中間點之鱗片數2.5；頰上具4-5列斜鱗。鰓耙數5-8+11-13=16-21。背鰭連續，單一，硬棘部及軟條部間具深凹，具硬棘X-I，軟條14；最後一根硬棘短於前一根硬棘。臀鰭有硬棘 IV，軟條9；胸鰭軟條 13-14 (通常為14) ；尾鰭深叉形。體呈紅色，鱗片的邊緣銀色；尾柄具銀白色斑塊(時常消失在死亡之後)。背鰭的硬棘部淡紅色，鰭膜具鮮紅色緣。

主要棲息於外圍礁石區、潟湖與海峭壁等區域，深度在 2 到 40 公尺處。單獨出現或成群的夜行性魚種，白天棲息在礁洞中，來回不停的游動，休息的處所並不十分隱密，晚上則大膽的離開礁洞遠些，尋找底棲蝦蟹及甲殼類等食物。

Sargocentron caudimaculatum, the silverspot squirrelfish or whitetail squirrelfish, is a reef-associated member of the family Holocentridae. It is native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans from East Africa to Japan and northern Australia and as far east as the Marshall Islands. It lives near reefs, but can also be found in lagoons and drop-offs at depths between 2 and 40 metres (6.6 and 131.2 ft). It is a nocturnal predator, feeding primarily on crabs and shrimps. It can reach sizes of up to 25.0 centimetres (9.8 in) TL. Although it is caught commercially and can be found in the aquarium trade, there are no known major threats to this species.

Occurs in coral-rich areas of outer reef slopes and dropoffs from 6 to over 40 m. Nocturnal, feeds mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps.