Blackbar Soldierfish

Myripristis berndti  

Habitat & Distribution :  Eastern Indian Ocean 

Diet : Small fish, crustaceans 

Size : 30 cm 

Lifespan : 5-8 years

Description

A nocturnal, reef-dwelling fish recognizable by its vibrant red-orange color, large eyes, and distinct black marks on the gill cover. They possess large, silvery-pink scales with red edges and white-edged fins 

Behavior

Nocturnal, reef-dwelling fish with a shy demeanor. They spend days hiding in caves and under ledges, often in small, loose groups, before emerging at night to hunt plankton and small crustaceans 

Reproduction

Blotcheye soldierfish are oviparous, pelagic spawners that reproduce by releasing buoyant, fertilized eggs into the water column. Spawning generally occurs during the austral summer 

Communication & Perception

These fish communicate primarily through sound, producing grunts to signal danger or interact with others 

Predator(s)

Sharks, groupers, large jacks, moray eels