Sealife guideThe blackbar soldierfishMyripristis jacobus
Taxonomy
- Common name: Blackbar soldierfish
- French name: Marignan mombin ou poisson soldat à barre noire
- Spanish name: Candil colorado,soldado raya negra
- Scientific name: Myripristis jacobus (Cuvier, 1829)
- Family name: Holocentridae
- Order name: Holocentriformes
- Class name: Actinopterygii
Description
The blackbar soldierfish has a predominantly red body with a broad, oblique black bar at the back of its head, making it easy to recognize. The red color lightens on its belly.
The edges of its fins, including the tail, are white
The soldierfish is a medium-sized species, averaging around 15 centimeters in length.
Range
The blackbar soldierfish is found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat
The blackbar soldierfish is found in the shallow waters of coral reefs as well as in offshore waters to a depth of around 90 meters.
This species lives mainly in shoals, which can easily number in the hundreds.
Diet
The blackbar soldierfish mainly hunts at night, moving very little during the day, when it takes shelter under rocky overhangs and crevices.
Did you know ?
The blackbar soldierfish is listed as many other marine species within The
IUCN Red List of threatened species. The blackbar soldierfish appears in the
IUCN Red List since 2015 within the category Least Concern !
The blackbar soldierfish lives mainly in shoals whose numbers can easily reach a hundred or so individuals. ©
Tim Gurney |
Dreamstime.comWithin the same genus
Shadowfin soldierfish
(Myripristis adusta)
Pinecone soldierfish
(Myripristis murdjan)
Scarlet soldierfish
(Myripristis pralinia)
Within the same family
Squirrelfish
(Holocentrus adscensionis)
Blackspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron melanospilos)
Tailspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron caudimaculatum)
Clearfin squirrelfish
(Neoniphon argenteus)
Sabre squirrelfish
(Sargocentron spiniferum)
Sammara squirrelfish
(Neoniphon sammara)
Violet squirrelfish
(Sargocentron violaceum)
Longspine squirrelfish
(Holocentrus rufus)
Explore also
Jolthead porgy
(Calamus bajonado)
Mahi-mahi
(Coryphaena hippurus)
Helmut gunard
(Dactyloptena orientalis)
Nassau grouper
(Epinephelus striatus)
Blueface angelfish
(Pomacanthus xanthometopon)
Banded angelfish
(Apolemichthys arcuatus)
Yellowfin surgeonfish
(Acanthurus xanthopterus)
Latticed butterfly
(Chaetodon rafflesii)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Brown chromis
(Chromis multilineata)
Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi)
Chain moray
(Echidna catenata)
Glasseye snapper
(Heteropriacanthus cruentatus)
Hawksbill sea turtle
(Eretmochelys imbricata)
Leatherback sea turtle
(Dermochelys coriacea)
Peacock flounder
(Bothus lunatus)
Red cushion sea star
(Oreaster reticulatus)
Dive centers
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa dive center
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