Sealife guideThe blackbar soldierfishMyripristis jacobus
Last updated on 06/10/2024 at 11:44 PM
Taxonomy
- Common name: Blackbar soldierfish
- French name: Marignan mombin ou poisson soldat à barre noire
- Spanish name: Candil colorado,soldado raya negra
- Scientific name: Myripristis jacobus (Cuvier, 1829)
- Family name: Holocentridae
- Order name: Holocentriformes
- Class name: Actinopterygii
Description
The blackbar soldierfish has a predominantly red body with a broad, oblique black bar at the back of its head, making it easy to recognize. The red color lightens on its belly.
The edges of its fins, including the tail, are white
The soldierfish is a medium-sized species, averaging around 15 centimeters in length.
Geographic range
The blackbar soldierfish is found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat
The blackbar soldierfish is found in the shallow waters of coral reefs as well as in offshore waters to a depth of around 90 meters.
This species lives mainly in shoals, which can easily number in the hundreds.
Diet
The blackbar soldierfish mainly hunts at night, moving very little during the day, when it takes shelter under rocky overhangs and crevices.
Did you know ?
The blackbar soldierfish is listed as many other marine species within The
IUCN Red List of threatened species. The blackbar soldierfish appears in the
IUCN Red List since 2015 within the category Least Concern !
The blackbar soldierfish lives mainly in shoals whose numbers can easily reach a hundred or so individuals. ©
Tim Gurney |
Dreamstime.comWithin the same genus
Pinecone soldierfish
(Myripristis murdjan)
Scarlet soldierfish
(Myripristis pralinia)
Shadowfin soldierfish
(Myripristis adusta)
Within the same family
Blackspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron melanospilos)
Clearfin squirrelfish
(Neoniphon argenteus)
Longspine squirrelfish
(Holocentrus rufus)
Redcoat
(Sargocentron rubrum)
Sammara squirrelfish
(Neoniphon sammara)
Squirrelfish
(Holocentrus adscensionis)
Tailspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron caudimaculatum)
Violet squirrelfish
(Sargocentron violaceum)
Discover also
Bluestreak goby
(Valenciennea strigata)
Leopard snake eel
(Myrichthys pardalis)
Mahi-mahi
(Coryphaena hippurus)
Mexican barracuda
(Sphyraena ensis)
Picarel
(Spicara smaris)
Reticulated sandperch
(Parapercis tetracantha)
Taylor's pygmy leatherjacket
(Brachaluteres taylori)
Zebra moray
(Gymnomuraena zebra)
The marine species in the Caribbean
Bearded fireworm
(Hermodice carunculata)
Chain moray
(Echidna catenata)
Doctorfish
(Acanthurus chirurgus)
Queen triggerfish
(Balistes vetula)
Royal angelfish
(Pygoplites diacanthus)
Saucereye porgy
(Calamus calamus)
Tiger shark
(Galeocerdo cuvier)
White grunt
(Haemulon plumierii)
Dive centers
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa dive center
Our latestUpdates
Wednesday, August 12th 2026
The crown-of-thorns starfish
Discover the crown-of-thorns starfish, a voracious coral predator that, when populations become unusually large, can consume vast areas of coral and cause significant damage to coral reefs.
Monday, August 10th 2026
The royal sea star
Discover the royal sea star (Astropecten articulatus), a fascinating sea star found on sandy bottoms in the western Atlantic, recognized by its colorful, spine-covered margins.
Monday, August 3rd 2026
The olive ridley sea turtle
Discover the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), the world's most abundant sea turtle, famous for its spectacular mass nesting events, wide tropical distribution, unique behavior, diet, reproduction, and conservation challenges.
Photo of the Day
Requin pointe blanche
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
