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Panamic soldierfish (Myripristis leiognathus) — Holocentridae

Panamic soldierfish

Myripristis leiognathus
Family: Holocentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Panamic soldierfish (Myripristis leiognathus) is a saltwater fish of the family Holocentridae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–24.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Panamic soldierfish is a soldierfish from the eastern Pacific, ranging from the Gulf of California to Ecuador and the Galapagos. The species grows to about 18 cm and has a deep, red body with large eyes, adapted to nocturnal life. By day it shelters under rocks and in small caves; at night it emerges in small groups to eat crustaceans and zooplankton. The fins and gill cover bear sharp spines that can inflict cuts. The fish is otherwise harmless and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Panamic soldierfish?

The Panamic soldierfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Panamic soldierfish live?

The Panamic soldierfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Panamic soldierfish get?

The Panamic soldierfish grows to a maximum of about 18 cm. On average the species is around 12 cm.

Is the Panamic soldierfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Panamic soldierfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Panamic soldierfish edible?

The Panamic soldierfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Panamese soldatenvis verified
English name
Panamic soldierfish verified
Scientific name
Myripristis leiognathus
Family
Holocentridae
Other names
Panamic soldierfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Average length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
24.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Myripristis

More from the family Holocentridae

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