Holocentrus rufus

Common Name

Longspine Squirrelfish

Year Described

Walbaum, 1792


Dorsal Fin: XI, 14-16
Anal Fin: IV, 9-11
Pectoral Fin: 15-17
Lateral Line Scales: 50-57
Vertebrae: 27 (total)
Gill Rakers: 24-26

Body oval with a flattened ventrum and convex dorsal profile. Head with small serrations on suborbital but no strong spines. Snout pointed with a convex frontal profile. Eye large. Preopercle serrated with a strong spine at the angle. Opercle with 1 strong spine and additional serrations on margin. Mouth moderate; reaching middle of orbit (Holocentrus adscensionis with a larger mouth). Rear dorsal, anal, and caudal fins very elongate and pointed. Spiny and soft dorsal fin broadly connected. Third anal spine strong. Upper caudal lobe longer. Scales obvious.


Body bright red, pinkish, or silvery with darker stripes parallel to scale rows. Head bright red with a V-shaped white marking running along the preopercle to the maxilla. Can variably display white and red marbling on the mid-body depending on time of day and mood. Eye dark red with blue ring. Spiny dorsal fin opaque whitish with yellow spines and a line of white triangles along the distal margin. All other fins pale yellowish. Anal and pelvic fins with white anterior margins.


A large species, reaching 44cm SL.


Inhabits a wide range of reef habitats, to depths of over 300m.


South Florida to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Also Bermuda.


McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Volume 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press, Austin. i-viii + 1-1112.