Teleostei (teleosts) >
Holocentriformes (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes) >
Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes) > Myripristinae
Etymology: Ostichthys: Greek,osteon = bone + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 90 - 640 m (Ref. 117152). Deep-water; 27°N - 21°S, 35°E - 149°W
Western Indian Ocean: Japan, Fr. Polynesia and the Hawaiian Is.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 32.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5213); common length : 24.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9948)
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14. This species is distinguished by the following characters: scales above lateral line to midbase of spinous portion of dorsal fin 2½; D XII, soft rays modally 14, the last two dorsal-fin spines about equal in length or last slightly shorter; space between last dorsal-fin spine and first dorsal-fin ray about half as broad as space between last two dorsal-fin spines; upper procurrent spiniform caudal-fin rays 4, lower rays 3; origin of anal fin beneath spinous portion of dorsal fin; lateral-line scales 28-30 (usually 29); dorsal profile of head straight; pectoral-fin rays 14-16 (modally 15); gill rakers 7-9 + 13-15; depth of body 2.1-2.35 in SL; head relatively short, 2.45-2.6 in SL; snout long, 3.7-4.7 in HL; depth of caudal peduncle 3.8-4.7 in HL; colour when fresh red with a faint whitish longitudinal banding following scale rows (Ref. 114923).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep; Cross section: oval.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Greenfield, D.W., J.E. Randall and P.N. Psomadakis, 2017. A review of the soldierfish genus Ostichthys (Beryciformes: Holocentridae), with descriptions of two new species in Myanmar. J. Ocean Sci. Found. 26:1-33. (Ref. 114923)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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