Crimson Soldierfish, Myripristis murdjan (Forsskal, 1775)

Scientific name: Myripristis murdjan (Forsskal, 1775)
  • Updated
    15/02/19
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Crimson Soldierfish Click to enlarge image
A Crimson Soldierfish at a depth of 26m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, January 2000. Image: Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Myripristis
    Species
    murdjan (Forsskal, 1775)
    Family
    Holocentridae
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 27 cm in length.

Introduction

The Crimson Soldierfish is a cave and crevice dweller that can be recognised by its large eyes, large scales and the dark brown to black band just behind the head.

Identification

The Crimson Soldierfish is silvery pink with red scale margins. A dark brown to black region runs from the top of the operculum to the pectoral fin base. There is a large black blotch above the pupil and a smaller blotch below.

The first dorsal fin is red. The remaining median fins and pelvic fins are red with white leading rays.

Habitat

The species is normally seen in caves and crevices.

Distribution

It 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 to the northern New South Wales coast.

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 data sourced from the 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. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  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 Indo-Pacific Holocentrid Fishes of the Genus Myripristis, with Descriptions of Three New Species. Indo-Pacific Fishes. 25: 1-61.