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 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.
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.
The blackbar soldierfish lives mainly in shoals whose numbers can easily reach a hundred or so individuals. ©  | Dreamstime.com
Within the same genus
Pinecone soldierfish (Myripristis murdjan)
Pinecone soldierfish
(Myripristis murdjan)
Scarlet soldierfish (Myripristis pralinia)
Scarlet soldierfish
(Myripristis pralinia)
Shadowfin soldierfish (Myripristis adusta)
Shadowfin soldierfish
(Myripristis adusta)
Within the same family
Blackspot squirrelfish (Sargocentron melanospilos)
Blackspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron melanospilos)
Clearfin squirrelfish (Neoniphon argenteus)
Clearfin squirrelfish
(Neoniphon argenteus)
Redcoat (Sargocentron rubrum)
Redcoat
(Sargocentron rubrum)
Sabre squirrelfish (Sargocentron spiniferum)
Sabre squirrelfish
(Sargocentron spiniferum)
Sammara squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara)
Sammara squirrelfish
(Neoniphon sammara)
Squirrelfish (Holocentrus adscensionis)
Squirrelfish
(Holocentrus adscensionis)
Tailspot squirrelfish (Sargocentron caudimaculatum)
Tailspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron caudimaculatum)
Violet squirrelfish (Sargocentron violaceum)
Violet squirrelfish
(Sargocentron violaceum)
Discover also
Blackbelt hogfish (Bodianus mesothorax)
Blackbelt hogfish
(Bodianus mesothorax)
Crevalle jack (Caranx hippos)
Crevalle jack
(Caranx hippos)
Longfin batfish (Platax teira)
Longfin batfish
(Platax teira)
Midnight parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus)
Midnight parrotfish
(Scarus coelestinus)
Pacific creolefish (Cephalopholis colonus)
Pacific creolefish
(Cephalopholis colonus)
Spanish hogfish (Bodianus rufus)
Spanish hogfish
(Bodianus rufus)
Spotted seahorse (Hippocampus kuda)
Spotted seahorse
(Hippocampus kuda)
Tessellated blenny (Hypsoblennius invemar)
Tessellated blenny
(Hypsoblennius invemar)
The marine species in the Caribbean
Blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus)
Blacknose shark
(Carcharhinus acronotus)
Blue runner (Caranx crysos)
Blue runner
(Caranx crysos)
Chain moray (Echidna catenata)
Chain moray
(Echidna catenata)
Peacock flounder (Bothus lunatus)
Peacock flounder
(Bothus lunatus)
Queen parrotfish (Scarus vetula)
Queen parrotfish
(Scarus vetula)
Spotted spiny lobster (Panulirus guttatus)
Spotted spiny lobster
(Panulirus guttatus)
Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)
Stoplight parrotfish
(Sparisoma viride)
White grunt (Haemulon plumierii)
White grunt
(Haemulon plumierii)
Dive centers
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Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
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