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)
Sammara squirrelfish
(Neoniphon sammara)
Squirrelfish
(Holocentrus adscensionis)
Violet squirrelfish
(Sargocentron violaceum)
Discover also
Blackwedged butterflyfish
(Chaetodon falcula)
Cocoa damselfish
(Stegastes variabilis)
Eastern blue devil
(Paraplesiops bleekeri)
Forkbeard
(Phycis phycis)
Humbug damselfish
(Dascyllus aruanus)
Sixbar wrasse
(Thalassoma hardwicke)
Spotted scorpionfish
(Scorpaena plumieri)
Vermiculated angelfish
(Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Black triggerfish
(Melichthys niger)
Longsnout seahorse
(Hippocampus reidi)
Midnight parrotfish
(Scarus coelestinus)
Nassau grouper
(Epinephelus striatus)
Pederson cleaner shrimp
(Ancylomenes pedersoni)
Smooth trunkfish
(Rhinesomus triqueter)
Spanish slipper lobster
(Scyllarides aequinoctialis)
Spotted goatfish
(Pseudupeneus maculatus)
Dive centers
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa dive center
Our latestUpdates
Thursday, May 7th 2026
Faroe islands
Discover the Faroe islands, a remote archipelago between Iceland and Norway known for its dramatic cliffs, colorful villages, and untouched Nordic landscapes. Find travel tips, itineraries, hiking guides, local culture, and inspiration to explore this unique destination in the North Atlantic.
Wednesday, May 6th 2026
The short-finned pilot whale
Discover the tropical pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), a highly social large cetacean from tropical and subtropical waters, specialized in deep dives in search of squid.
Thursday, April 23rd 2026
Where to see groupers in the Mediterranean ?
Discover where to see groupers in the Mediterranean: the best diving spots and protected marine areas to observe this iconic fish in its natural habitat.
Photo of the Day
Poisson ange à tête bleue
(Pomacanthus xanthometopon)
