squirrelfish

squirrelfish
/skwerr"euhl fish', skwur"-/ or, esp. Brit., /skwir"-/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) squirrelfish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) squirrelfishes.
any of several brightly colored, nocturnal fishes of the family Holocentridae, inhabiting shallow waters of tropical reefs, esp. the reddish Holocentrus ascensionis of the West Indies, armed with sharp spines and scales.
[1795-1805; perh. after the sound it makes out of water, likened to a squirrel's bark]

* * *

▪ fish
also called  Soldierfish,  

      any of about 70 species of large-eyed, colourful, tropical reef fish of the family Holocentridae (order Beryciformes). Squirrelfish are edible fish found throughout the tropics. They have spiny fins and rough, prickly scales; some also have a sharp spine on each cheek. Most squirrelfish are red in colour, and many are marked with yellow, white, or black. The largest species is probably Holocentrus spinifer, a Pacific squirrelfish growing about 60 cm (24 inches) long. Squirrelfish are carnivorous and nocturnal, hiding by day among the reefs.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • squirrelfish — noun 1. similar to sea bream; small spiny finned fish found in bays along the southeastern coast of the United States • Syn: ↑pinfish, ↑sailor s choice, ↑Lagodon rhomboides • Hypernyms: ↑sparid, ↑sparid fish • Member H …   Useful english dictionary

  • squirrelfish — /ˈskwɪrəlfɪʃ/ (say skwiruhlfish) noun (plural squirrelfish or squirrelfishes) any fish of the tropical marine family Holocentridae, or of the related family Melamplaidae, having large eyes and a usually reddish body. Usage: For variation in the… …  

  • squirrelfish — smėlinis ešerys statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Diplectrum conceptione angl. sand perch; squirrelfish rus. песчаный окунь ryšiai: platesnis terminas – smėliniai ešeriai …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • squirrelfish — paprastoji voveržuvė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Holocentrus ascensionis angl. squirrelfish rus. вознесенская рыба белка; обыкновенная рыба белка ryšiai: platesnis terminas – paprastosios… …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • Squirrelfish (disambiguation) — Squirrelfish may refer to:* Squirrelfish or Holocentridae, a family of ray finned fish * SquirrelFish, a Javascript engine being developed by the Webkit project …   Wikipedia

  • squirrelfish — noun Date: 1803 any of various small chiefly tropical usually red bony fishes (family Holocentridae) with large eyes, spiny fins, and rough scales …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • squirrelfish — noun Any member of the subfamily Holocentrinae of the family Holocentridae of ray finned fish …   Wiktionary

  • squirrelfish — noun (plural same or squirrelfishes) a large eyed marine fish, typically brightly coloured, that lives around reefs in warm seas. [Family Holocentridae: several species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • squirrelfish —    Ū ū, ala ihi; a ala ihi (young) …   English-Hawaiian dictionary

  • blood-spot squirrelfish — dėmėtoji voveržuvė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Neoniphon sammara angl. blood spot squirrelfish; longchin soldierfish; sam soldier; sammara squirrelfish; spotfin squirrelfish rus. пятнистый… …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”