Caribbean squirrel fish (Holocentrus ascensionis equal Holocentrus adscensionis in Audubon reef fishes(?)and the Peterson Guide to Atlantic Coast fishes(?)) is found from Florida south to northern South America. This is then found as far south as Brazil. This can be seen as far north as South Carolina. In the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, this is seen in almost all shallow reef waters. This usually grows to about 12 inches in length, but Migdalski notes that examples near 24 inches have been reported. This is a reddish fish with red horizontal lines along the side of the body.

Holocentrus genus of squirrel fish are found in all major warm and tropical oceans of the world. These fish have a prominent spine on the gill cover. The red color helps hide the fish at night when feeding.

Squirrel fish family members (Holodentridae) are found in coral reefs in the warmer and tropical oceans. These fish have large eyes, and many are orange or reddish. There are about 70 plus species in the family. The squirrel fish have a single dorsal fin that is deeply cut into two. The forward half is spiny, and the back half is somwhat taller giving the appearance of two distinct dorsal fins. The eggs are laid and drift into the open ocean to hatch. Crustaceans appear to be the main food for adult members of this family.

Squirrel Fish, Order Beryciformes, are a group of marine fish. They usually have spines in almost all of their fins. The families Polymyxiidae (Beardfishes), Anomalopidae (Lantern-eye fishes), and Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes) belong here.

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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