The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 60
Squirrelfish are large-eyed, red-bodied tropical marine fish that prefer living in darker reef areas like caves and overhangs. Night diving is the best time to see these nocturnal fish when they come out of their daytime hiding spots to hunt. You can go diving with squirrelfish throughout the world’s tropical regions.
There are about 150 different squirrelfish species growing around 30 cm (1 foot) long on average. Some species, like the popular longspine squirrelfish, have sharp spines along their dorsal fin that secrete poison as a defense mechanism. You can go diving with squirrelfish in rocky and coral reef areas, especially those with many caverns and overhangs. Explore the dive site map below to see where squirrelfish are commonly seen.
