Sealife guideThe blackbar soldierfishMyripristis jacobus

Last updated on 06/10/2024 at 11:44 PM
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 blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus)
The blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) ©  | Dreamstime.com
The edges of its fins, including the tail, are white
The soldierfish is a medium-sized species, averaging around 15 centimeters in length.
Geographic 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.
The blackbar soldierfish lives mainly in shoals whose numbers can easily reach a hundred or so individuals. ©  | Dreamstime.com
Within the same genus
Pinecone soldierfish (Myripristis murdjan)
Pinecone soldierfish
(Myripristis murdjan)
Scarlet soldierfish (Myripristis pralinia)
Scarlet soldierfish
(Myripristis pralinia)
Shadowfin soldierfish (Myripristis adusta)
Shadowfin soldierfish
(Myripristis adusta)
Within the same family
Blackspot squirrelfish (Sargocentron melanospilos)
Blackspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron melanospilos)
Clearfin squirrelfish (Neoniphon argenteus)
Clearfin squirrelfish
(Neoniphon argenteus)
Longspine squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus)
Longspine squirrelfish
(Holocentrus rufus)
Redcoat (Sargocentron rubrum)
Redcoat
(Sargocentron rubrum)
Sammara squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara)
Sammara squirrelfish
(Neoniphon sammara)
Squirrelfish (Holocentrus adscensionis)
Squirrelfish
(Holocentrus adscensionis)
Tailspot squirrelfish (Sargocentron caudimaculatum)
Tailspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron caudimaculatum)
Violet squirrelfish (Sargocentron violaceum)
Violet squirrelfish
(Sargocentron violaceum)
Discover also
Blackblotch lizardfish (Synodus jaculum)
Blackblotch lizardfish
(Synodus jaculum)
Blacktail angelfish (Centropyge eibli)
Blacktail angelfish
(Centropyge eibli)
Copperbanded butterfly (Chelmon rostratus)
Copperbanded butterfly
(Chelmon rostratus)
European flounder (Platichthys flesus)
European flounder
(Platichthys flesus)
Schoolmaster snapper (Lutjanus apodus)
Schoolmaster snapper
(Lutjanus apodus)
Sea goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
Sea goldie
(Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
Short dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis)
Short dragonfish
(Eurypegasus draconis)
Yellowmouth barracuda (Sphyraena viridensis)
Yellowmouth barracuda
(Sphyraena viridensis)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Caribbean giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta)
Caribbean giant barrel sponge
(Xestospongia muta)
Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata)
Elkhorn coral
(Acropora palmata)
Giant caribbean anemone (Condylactis gigantea)
Giant caribbean anemone
(Condylactis gigantea)
Longsnout seahorse (Hippocampus reidi)
Longsnout seahorse
(Hippocampus reidi)
Red hind grouper (Epinephelus guttatus)
Red hind grouper
(Epinephelus guttatus)
Royal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)
Royal angelfish
(Pygoplites diacanthus)
Scrawled cowfish (Acanthostracion quadricornis)
Scrawled cowfish
(Acanthostracion quadricornis)
Yellowhead jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)
Yellowhead jawfish
(Opistognathus aurifrons)
Dive centers
Centre de plongée des Ilets
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
Vous abonnez !

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