Appearance
Also known as squirrelfish and sand sea bass.
- Body and dorsal fins have dark-brown bars and orange and blue stripes
- Head has many blue lines
- Body is slender and cylindrical
- Preopercle (cheek) with spines radiating from two clusters
- Adults have elongated upper lobe of tail
Size: Up to 12 inches
Habitat
Coastal waters, including bays, seagrass beds and shallow banks.
Behavior
Additional Information
Despite their common name, sand perch are not “true” squirrelfishes.
Image Credit: © Diane Rome Peebles