Teleostei (teleosts) >
Holocentriformes (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes) >
Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes) > Myripristinae
Etymology: Myripristis: Greek, myros, -ou = male of morey eel + Greek, pristis = saw (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 100 m (Ref. 128797). Tropical; 32°N - 32°S
Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Natal, South Africa (except Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Indian coast) and east to French Polynesia and the Hawaiian Islands; north to Tosa Bay, Shikoku (Japan), south to the Great Barrier Reef and Lord Howe Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 26.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 48635); common length : 16.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573)
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 14 - 16. Body red dorsally, silvery pink below LL; reddish brown bar from upper end of gill opening to base of pectoral fins; fins red except for spinous dorsal which is translucent red basally and broadly yellow distally (Ref. 4201). Has smaller scales than most other similar species and the higher number along the body is quite obvious (Ref. 48635).
Lives in subtidal reef flats, also in lagoon and seaward reefs below the surge zone to depths of at least 26 m. Often occurs in large aggregations during the day in areas of rich foliaceous or cavernous coral growth (Ref. 30573). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds on plankton such as crab larvae. Caught at night (Ref. 30573).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E. and D.W. Greenfield, 1996. Revision of the Indo-Pacific holocentrid fishes of the genus Myripristis, with descriptions of three new species. Indo-Pac. Fish. (25):61 p. (Ref. 12419)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.2 - 28.9, mean 27.8 °C (based on 640 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02188 (0.01308 - 0.03660), b=3.12 (2.98 - 3.26), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.2 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (16 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 61.3 [29.6, 188.9] mg/100g; Iron = 0.783 [0.335, 1.616] mg/100g; Protein = 18.3 [17.2, 19.5] %; Omega3 = 0.162 [0.067, 0.375] g/100g; Selenium = 35.4 [21.0, 65.2] μg/100g; VitaminA = 108 [42, 272] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.26 [0.81, 1.90] mg/100g (wet weight);
