Sealife guideThe blackbar soldierfishMyripristis jacobus

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 blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus)
The blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) ©  | Dreamstime.com
The edges of its fins, including the tail, are white
The soldierfish is a medium-sized species, averaging around 15 centimeters in length.
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.
The blackbar soldierfish lives mainly in shoals whose numbers can easily reach a hundred or so individuals. ©  | Dreamstime.com
Within the same genus
Shadowfin soldierfish (Myripristis adusta)
Shadowfin soldierfish
(Myripristis adusta)
Pinecone soldierfish (Myripristis murdjan)
Pinecone soldierfish
(Myripristis murdjan)
Scarlet soldierfish (Myripristis pralinia)
Scarlet soldierfish
(Myripristis pralinia)
Within the same family
Squirrelfish (Holocentrus adscensionis)
Squirrelfish
(Holocentrus adscensionis)
Redcoat (Sargocentron rubrum)
Redcoat
(Sargocentron rubrum)
Blackspot squirrelfish (Sargocentron melanospilos)
Blackspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron melanospilos)
Tailspot squirrelfish (Sargocentron caudimaculatum)
Tailspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron caudimaculatum)
Clearfin squirrelfish (Neoniphon argenteus)
Clearfin squirrelfish
(Neoniphon argenteus)
Sammara squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara)
Sammara squirrelfish
(Neoniphon sammara)
Violet squirrelfish (Sargocentron violaceum)
Violet squirrelfish
(Sargocentron violaceum)
Longspine squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus)
Longspine squirrelfish
(Holocentrus rufus)
Explore also
Fivefinger razorfish (Iniistius pentadactylus)
Fivefinger razorfish
(Iniistius pentadactylus)
Rusty angelfish (Centropyge ferrugata)
Rusty angelfish
(Centropyge ferrugata)
Crocodilefish (Cymbacephalus beauforti)
Crocodilefish
(Cymbacephalus beauforti)
Sergeant baker (Latropiscis purpurissatus)
Sergeant baker
(Latropiscis purpurissatus)
Teardrop butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus)
Teardrop butterflyfish
(Chaetodon unimaculatus)
Eschmeyer's scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri)
Eschmeyer's scorpionfish
(Rhinopias eschmeyeri)
Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)
Bigeye tuna
(Thunnus obesus)
Star gazer (Uranoscopus scaber)
Star gazer
(Uranoscopus scaber)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus)
Blackbar soldierfish
(Myripristis jacobus)
Blue chromis (Azurina cyanea)
Blue chromis
(Azurina cyanea)
Caribbean giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta)
Caribbean giant barrel sponge
(Xestospongia muta)
Chain moray (Echidna catenata)
Chain moray
(Echidna catenata)
Chocolate chip sea cucumber (Isostichopus badionotus)
Chocolate chip sea cucumber
(Isostichopus badionotus)
Gray angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus)
Gray angelfish
(Pomacanthus arcuatus)
Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum)
Long-spined sea urchin
(Diadema antillarum)
Sand tilefish (Malacanthus plumieri)
Sand tilefish
(Malacanthus plumieri)
Dive centers
Centre de plongée des Ilets
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
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