| Family: |
Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes), subfamily: Myripristinae |
| Max. size: |
35 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 30 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Natal, South Africa and east to the Line, Society, and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef. It has not been reported from the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Oman, or the Persian Gulf and is absent in the Hawaiian Islands, Marquesas, Pitcairn Group, and Easter Island (Ref. 12419). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 4-4; Anal soft rays: 12-14. Pale salmon pink; edges of scales dorsally on body deep blue to black; median fins with broad black outer border. Inner pectoral fin axil naked except for one (rarely two) moderate scales on lower half (Ref. 2334).
Description: Characterized by large scales in axil of pectoral fins 1-2 (without small scales); body depth 2.0-2.5 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Usually inhabits coral-rich areas of drop-offs and steep channel slopes from below the effects of surge to over 25 m. Occurs singly or in small groups, sometimes with other species (Ref. 9710, 48635). A nocturnal species hiding in caves or beneath ledges by day, feeds on plankton such as crab larvae at night. Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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