Description

Also known as Bastard Soldierfish, Bigeye Soldierfish, Bigeye Squirrelfish, Big-eyed Soldierfish, Big-eyed Squirrelfish, Brother Jim, Buffalo-head, Chinaman, Pinecone Soldierfish, Roundhead, Softback Soldier, Softback Soldierfish.

Found in small to large schools, often hiding in dark recesses during the day, over shallow, protected, inner reefs and lagoons, dispersing at night hunting for food, over coral reefs and off-shore deeper reefs. Red with white tips on fins and big eyes with eye-bar.
They feed on zooplankton.
Length - 20cm
Depth - 0-200m
Widespread Eastern Atlantic, Western Atlantic, Caribbean

Soldierfish are nocturnal hunters feeding in the water column on zooplankton. During the day they often congregate close to reefs and in caves, sometimes found upside down in caves.
They can often be heard by divers with their pops, grunts and clicks.
Their colour can change greatly in different lights and if threatened.
Some soldierfish have venomous spines. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Myripristis-jacobus