Animal Species:Bigscale Soldierfish, Myripristis berndti Jordan & Evermann, 1903

Identification

The Bigscale Soldierfish can be recognised by its colouration. The scales are silver-pink to pale yellow with red edges. The spiny dorsal fin is orange to yellow on the outer portion and red basally. All the other fins are red, with a white margin and often with a dark submarginal streak. The opercular membrane and naked area above the pectoral fin are dark brown to black.

Size range

The Bigscale Soldierfish grows to 30 cm in length.

Distribution

The species is widely distributed throughout tropical, marine waters of the Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific.

In Australia it is recorded from north-western Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Bigscale Soldierfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It occurs on coral reefs.  During the day it is usually seen in caves and under ledges.

Classification

Species:

berndti

Genus:

Myripristis

Family:

Holocentridae

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
2. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
3. Randall, J.E & D.W. Greenfield, 1996. Revision of the Indo-Pacific Holocentrid Fishes of the Genus Myripristis, with descriptions of three new species. Indo-Pacific Fishes 25: 1-61, pls i-ix.

Last Updated: 4 August 2012

Tags fish, ichthyology, Bigscale Soldierfish, Myripristis berndti, coral reef, caves, ledges, silver-pink, pale yellow, orange, 10 cm - 30 cm, tropical water, marine,