Neoniphon aurolineatus (Liénard, 1839)
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Neoniphon aurolineatus (Liénard, 1839)
Genus: , ,

Scientific Name: Neoniphon aurolineatus

English Name: Yellowstriped squirrelfish

Creole Name:

French Name: Écureuil à rayures jaunes

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)

Description:

Dorsal spines: 11; Dorsal rays: 12-14; Anal spines: 4; Anal rays: 8-9.

Medium-sized squirrelfish with subrectangular body and long caudal peduncle. Large eye. 5 oblique rows of cheek scales. Lower jaw strongly projecting. Preopercular spine short.
Dor­sal profile of snout nearly straight with a break in con­tour above eye to a less steep, nearly straight profile for rest of head. 3.5 scale rows above the lateral line. 
3rd anal spine long and thick. Forked tail with rounded tips. 

Colour. Body silvery pink wih yellow stripes following scale rows. Head silvery pink with oblique orange-red bar through eye and across cheek to corner of preopercle. Small 
orange-red bar above and across posterior edge of orbit giving "eyebrow" effect. A broad orange-red bar passing from top of head across opercle. First 2 dorsal interspinous 
membranes mostly orange red. Tips of spinous dorsal membranes white, as well as front part of each membrane posterior to 3rd spine; rest of interspinous membranes a mixture 
of red and yellow. Pelvic fin white. Remaining fins pale red. Base of pectoral fin yellow. 

Only species of Neoniphon that has yellow body stripes. 
 


Size:

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 25.0 cm TL. 


Habitat and Ecology:

Apparently rare. Confined to outer reef slopes and rarely occurs less than 40 m depth (depth 30-188 m, usually 40-70 m). Benthopelagic. Inhabits caves and crevices. Solitary 
or in small groups. Feeds on crustaceans.


Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It has yet to be documented in the artisanal catch. 
 


Notes:

Photo courtesy Eleanor Brighton and Chris Mason-Parker (c) 2022 Blue Safari Seychelles/Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles. Photograph taken at Alphonse group 2022.
 


References:

Bray, D.J. (2020). Neoniphon aurolineatus in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4443 (26/07/22).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/12896 (25/07/22).
Williams, I. & Greenfield, D. (2016). Neoniphon aurolineatus (errata version 2017). The IUCN Red List 2016: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T67871203A67871870.en. (25/07/22). 
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4


Citation:

Nevill, J.E.G., Brighton, E. & Mason-Parker, C. (2022). Neoniphon aurolineatus, Yellowstriped squirrelfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/neoniphon-aurolineatus-lienard-1839/


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