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)

Sabre squirrelfish
(Sargocentron spiniferum)

Squirrelfish
(Holocentrus adscensionis)

Tailspot squirrelfish
(Sargocentron caudimaculatum)

Violet squirrelfish
(Sargocentron violaceum)
Discover also

Atlantic tarpon
(Megalops atlanticus)

Bali sardinella
(Sardinella lemuru)

Blue parrotfish
(Scarus coeruleus)

Gorgonian goby
(Bryaninops amplus)

Lemon damselfish
(Pomacentrus moluccensis)

Porkfish
(Anisotremus virginicus)

Potato grouper
(Epinephelus tukula)

Yellowfin tuna
(Thunnus albacares)
The marine species in the Caribbean

Blue chromis
(Azurina cyanea)

Blue runner
(Caranx crysos)

Brown chromis
(Chromis multilineata)

French angelfish
(Pomacanthus paru)

Hogfish
(Lachnolaimus maximus)

Longspine squirrelfish
(Holocentrus rufus)

Queen triggerfish
(Balistes vetula)

Spanish slipper lobster
(Scyllarides aequinoctialis)
Dive centers

'Les Ilets' dive center

Noa dive center
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