Description:

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

Squirrelfish with moderately elongate body. Long slender caudal peduncle. Maxilla nearly reaching or extending slightly beyond anterior edge of pupil. Five or 6 oblique 
rows of scales on cheek. Small preopercular spine. Medial margin of nasal bone without spinule. Nasal fossa without spinules on edge. Upper edge of suborbital bones below 
anterior half of eye spineless. Longest spines 4th dorsal and 3rd anal.

Colour. Body with alternating stripes of red and silvery white, the red stripes much broader than the white. Head red with 2 vertical white streaks on the opercle, one on 
its edge. An oblique white stripe below the eye. Dorsal fin a distinctive reddish-black with 2 white streaks. Caudal peduncle whitish. Lead edges of soft dorsal and caudal fins 
red, rays reddish and membranes transparent. Leading edges of pelvic and anal fins white, rays reddish and membranes transparent. Pectoral fins transparent.

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 17.0 cm TL. Rarely exceeds 13 cm TL. 

Inhabits shallow coral reefs, lagoon and seaward reefs, sheltering in crevices and beneath ledges during the day, and feeding on invertebrates over open 
sandy and low profile reef areas at night (depth 1-60 m, usually 2-30 m). Typically occurs in small groups. 
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It does not appear to be subject to the artisanal fishery. 

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

Bray, D.J. (2019). Sargocentron diadema in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4451 (16/07/22). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sargocentron-diadema.html (16/07/22).
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Williams, I. & Greenfield, D. (2016). Sargocentron diadema (errata version 2017). The IUCN Red List 2016: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T67901205A67906287.en. (16/07/22).

Nevill, J.E.G., Brighton, E. & Mason-Parker, C. (2022). Sargocentron diadema, Crown squirrelfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/sargocentron-diadema-lacepede-1802/