The blackbar soldierfish i(scientific name: Myripristis jacobus) s a member of the squirrelfish family (Family Holocentridae) that lives on coral reefs in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Blackbar soldierfish. Source: Florent Charpin/www.reefguid.org

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia (Animals) Phylum:--- Chordata Class:------ Osteichthyes (Bony Fishes) Order:-------- Perciformes Family:-------- Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes) Genus:---------- Myripristis  Species:----------Myripristis jacobus (Cuvier, 1829)

Physical Description

Blackbar soldierfish range in length from nine to 25 centimeters in length.  They have red bodies with large eyes. They derive their name from the black bar located behind their heads. 

Distribution

They are found in the Western Atlantic from North Carolina (USA), the Bahamas and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil and throughout the West Indies and the Caribbean Sea. In the Eastern Atlantic they are found in St. Paul's Rocks, Cape Verde, Principe, Ascension and St. Helena islands.

Habitat

They live on coral reefs at depths ranging from zero to 100 meters, but are more commonly found between  two and 35 meters. 

Feeding Behavior

Blackbar soldierfish are nocturnal planktonivores that feed on plankton in the water column above the reef.

Behavior

These nocturnal foragers spend the day aggregating in protected areas of the reef.  At night they enter the water column to feed. 

Reproduction

Spawning occurs in the water column. After the eggs hatch, larvae enter the pelagic stage where they remain until they settle on the reef. 

Associations

Occasionally, blackbar soldierfish have cymothoid isopods attached on their heads between their eyes. These isopods have a commensal relationship with the soldierfish and live attached to the fish while they filter plankton out of the water column.

Conservation Status

The blackbar soldierfish is not considered a species at risk.

References and Further Reading

• Encyclopedia of Life. Curator: C.Michael Hogan. 2011. Myripristis jacobus Cuvier, 1829
• Fishbase. Myripristis jacobus Blackbar soldierfish
• P.Humann and N.Deloach (Editor) 1994. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348078
• N.Deloach. 1999. Reef Fish Behavior, Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348280