Blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Myripristis jacobus
- Common name
- Blackbar soldierfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Holocentridae
- Genus
- Myripristis
- Size
- 12–25 cm
- Depth
- 2–100 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, cave
- Behaviours
- schooling, nocturnal
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Macaronesia, Eastern Pacific
Description
Myripristis jacobus reaches 25 cm. Soldierfish with uniform bright red-pink body with very characteristic vertical black bar behind operculum (hence blackbar soldierfish name). Large typical Holocentridae black eyes. Lives in dense schools from 2 to 100 m in caves, overhangs and crevices of coral reefs of Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic. Nocturnal, comes out to hunt zooplankton at night. Iconic photo subject of coral caves in tight schools.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Blackbar soldierfish?
- Blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) reaches 12–25 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Blackbar soldierfish?
- Blackbar soldierfish is found between 2–100 m deep.
- Is the Blackbar soldierfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Blackbar soldierfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Blackbar soldierfish?
- Found in: Caribbean, Macaronesia, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Myripristis
Other species in the family Holocentridae
- Holocentrus adscensionis - Squirrelfish
- Sargocentron coruscum - Reef squirrelfish
- Neoniphon marianus - Longjaw squirrelfish
- Holocentrus rufus - Longspine squirrelfish
- Sargocentron spiniferum - Sabre squirrelfish
- Sargocentron vexillarium - Bigeye Squirrelfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 159385)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2357064)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia