Sargocentron cf melanospilos (Bleeker, 1858)
Blackspot squirrelfish, 25cm

These squirrelfish, which may include more than one species, were found and photographed by Jay Lord under an overhang on the steep seaward slope. The largely yellow fins would seem to be characteristic, but the only reasonable match I can find among species of Sargocentron is S. melanospilos, which is supposed to have black spots under the second dorsal and anal fins, as well as at the base of the pectoral. Fishbase, however, does show one specimen from Majuro, Marshall Islands, that lacks the black spots and resembles the specimens below. At this point, the identification remains tentative.

Created 20 February 2018

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