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Randall's soldierfish (Myripristis randalli) — Holocentridae

Randall's soldierfish

Myripristis randalli
Family: Holocentridae

The Randall's soldierfish (Myripristis randalli) is a saltwater fish of the family Holocentridae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
19.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
15.0–54.0 m
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: American Samoa, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cook Is., French Polynesia, Pitcairn, Tonga and others

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Description

Randall's soldierfish is a soldierfish (Holocentridae) from reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a deep, red-silver body with dark-edged scales, very large eyes and white leading edges on the fins. As a nocturnal fish it shelters by day in caves and under overhangs and swarms out at night to snap small zooplankton and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Randall's soldierfish?

The Randall's soldierfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Randall's soldierfish live?

The Randall's soldierfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: American Samoa, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cook Is., French Polynesia, Pitcairn, Tonga and others

How big does the Randall's soldierfish get?

The Randall's soldierfish grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Randall's soldierfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Randall's soldierfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Randall's soldierfish (Myripristis randalli) — Holocentridae — 2
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Randall's soldierfish (Myripristis randalli) — Holocentridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Mayur Fulmali, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Randall's soldierfish sourced
Scientific name
Myripristis randalli
Family
Holocentridae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
19.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
54.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: American Samoa, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cook Is., French Polynesia, Pitcairn, Tonga and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. 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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