This squirrelfish is one of 84 species of squirrelfish world wide. Squirrelfish as a group are also known as soldierfish. This particular species (Holocentrus adscensionis) is one of the most common throughout its range and simply goes by the generic name squirrelfish.
Holocentrus adscension ranges from North Carolina and Bermuda, South all the way to Brazil and all points inbetween. It is also found on the other side of the Atlantic in Gabon, Angola, St. Paul's Rocks, St. Helena and Ascension Island.
Squirrelfish (Holocentrus adscension) are mostly red and some white and have yellow on the dorsal fin and white edges on the pectoral and anal fins.
Squirrelfish are found over reefs often at great depth. They are stay close to cover during the day and venture forth at night to feed on zooplankton. This is just the opposite of many small reef fish which hide in the coral crevasses at night to escape the large night time predators such as sharks.