Big thorn hussar fish
| Big thorn hussar fish | ||||||||||||
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Big thorn hussar fish ( Sargocentron spiniferum ) |
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| Sargocentron spiniferum | ||||||||||||
| ( Forsskål , 1775) |
The big thorn hussar fish or giant hussar ( Sargocentron spiniferum ) is a predatory fish from the genus Sargocentron from the subfamily of the hussar fish (Holocentrinae).
Outward appearance
The fish is reddish in color and has a squat shape. The reddish scales have white edges. The fins are orange to yellowish. The head has a concave profile with an upturned mouth. The lower jaw is significantly longer than the upper jaw. The fish has a short tail with a slackened caudal fin. The big thorn hussar fish is up to 45 cm long, making it the largest member of its (albeit not monophyletic ) genus.
distribution
Big thorn hussarfish are found in the Red Sea , Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean as far as Japan and Micronesia .
habitat
This fish prefers crevice-rich areas, especially coral reefs . There they spend the day hidden in caves and crevices. The animals live in water depths between 5 and 120 m.
nutrition
Big thorn hussar fish are nocturnal predatory fish. They live solitary and also hunt individually for fish and crustaceans .
Behavior towards people
The animals avoid people and are not aggressive. Despite the poisonous sting on the gill covers, they are basically harmless. There is a risk of injury if divers or snorkelers try to touch the animals.
literature
- Alberto Siliotti et al. A .: The fish of the Red Sea, Memofish-Book. Geodia Verlag, Verona 2002, ISBN 88-87177-43-0 .
Web links
- Bigthorn Hussarfish on Fishbase.org (English)