Epaulette Soldierfish, Myripristis kuntee Valenciennes, 1831

Scientific name: Myripristis kuntee
Alternative name/s:
Epaulette Squirrelfish, Kuntee Soldierfish, Kuntee Squirrelfish, Shoulderbar Soldierfish
Epaulette Soldierfish Click to enlarge image
An Epaulette Soldierfish at a depth of 18m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, December 2006. Image: Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Myripristis
    Species
    kuntee
    Family
    Holocentridae
    Order
    Beryciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 20 cm in length.

Introduction

The Epaulette Soldierfish is a nocturnal species with large eyes and a broad bar behind the head.

Identification

The Epaulette Soldierfish has large eyes, rough scales and a forked caudal fin. It is red to orange-red above and shades to silver ventrally. There is a blackish bar through the pupil and a broad bar behind the head from the upper end of the gill opening to the pectoral fin base.

Habitat

It is usually seen in caves and crevices during the day, but at night comes out into the open to feed.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and south on the east coast to northern 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.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. in Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
  6. 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.