WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Blackbar Soldierfish

Myripristis jacobus

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

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015
Adult
@fishx6 · Bonaire - Captain Don's Beach, Caribbean Netherlands · November 20101 / 20
01

Overview

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.

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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Fins & Tail
white fin tips
Head & Mouth
black eye stripe

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean, Eastern Atlantic
  • Country only · 20
LIVES IN

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.

04

Adult photos 20

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderHolocentriformes
    5. familyHolocentridae
    6. genusMyripristis
    7. speciesMyripristis jacobus Cuvier, 1829

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Squirrelfishes-Soldierfishes (Holocentridae)