Soldierfish

Name

Soldierfish (Myripristinae)

Size

On average, soldierfish measure 18 cm. They can be as long as 50 cm.

Identification

Soldierfish have flat, oval-shaped bodies and deeply forked tails. Their scales are two-toned in colour and have a rough appearance. They are usually red in colour with lighter and darker areas.

General Info

Soldierfish belong to the Myripristinae sub-family which comprises of 8 genera and 84 species. During the day they can be found over reefs or taking shelter under ledges or in cracks, hunting predominantly at night.
Soldierfish prefer to live in areas with strong currents. They are family of the squirrelfish and are pelagic spawners.

Feeding

Soldierfish feed on benthic crabs and shrimp.

Distribution

They can be found in all temperate and tropical oceans across the world.

Common Species

Blotcheye soldierfish - Myripristis murdjan
Finspot /Pale soldierfish - Myripristis melanosticta
Yellowfin soldierfish - Myripristis chryseres