New Records of Four Squirrelfishes (Beryciformes:Holocentridae) from the Coastal Waters of West Bengal, India

The fishes of family Holocentridae (Order Berciformes) are characterized by having large eyes, brilliant colouration with red predominating and spiny squamation (Shimizu & Yamakawa, 1979). The family represented by 8 genera and 65 species throughout the world (Nelson, 2006), however, 19 species from 4 genera were reported so far in Indian waters (Talwar, 1991). The two subfamilies of this group, Holocentrinae (squirrelfishes) and Myripristinae (soldierfishes) are distributed worldwide from tropical to warm temperate waters in shallow water on coral reefs or rocky bottom. The family is well known for sound production and nocturnal habit, hide in caves during day and come out at night for feeding. These fishes are very hardy in aquariums and attractive for the bright colouration.