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Whitetip soldierfish (Myripristis vittata) — Holocentridae

Whitetip soldierfish

Myripristis vittata
Family: Holocentridae

The Whitetip soldierfish (Myripristis vittata) is a saltwater fish of the family Holocentridae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–100.0 m
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The whitetip soldierfish is a nocturnal reef fish (Holocentridae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a deep, orange-red body with white fin tips and large eyes. By day it shelters in groups in caves and crevices of deeper coral and rocky reefs; at night it swarms out to hunt large zooplankton, mainly crustaceans, in open water. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Whitetip soldierfish?

The Whitetip soldierfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Whitetip soldierfish live?

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

How big does the Whitetip soldierfish get?

The Whitetip soldierfish grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Whitetip soldierfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Whitetip soldierfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Whitetip soldierfish edible?

Yes, the Whitetip soldierfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witvlek-soldatenvis sourced
English name
Whitetip soldierfish sourced
Scientific name
Myripristis vittata
Family
Holocentridae
Other names
Immaculate soldierfish; Immaculate squirrelfish; Red soldierfish; Red-orange squirrelfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 verified

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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