Myripristis violacea Bleeker, 1851
Lattice soldierfish
photo by Greenfield, J.

Family:  Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes), subfamily: Myripristinae
Max. size:  35 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 30 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands; throughout Micronesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 4-4; Anal soft rays: 12-14. Distinctive combination consisting of a silvery-violet sheen, orange tips on the fins, and a dark orange-red opercular bar. Description: Characterized by third and fourth anal spines about equal in length; lower part of axil of pectoral fins with small scales; depth of body 2.3-2.5 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occurs in lagoons, channels, and semi-protected seaward reefs rich in corals. Relatively common near arborescent Acropora or layered Porites rus corals. Feeds on plankton such as crab larvae. Marketed fresh (Ref. 3418).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.