Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Scientific Name: Myripristis seychellensis
English Name: Seychelles soldier
Creole Name: Lyon
French Name: Soldat à oeillères
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 11 (10 +1); Dorsal rays: 14-15; Anal spines: 4; Anal rays: 13.
Body deep and somewhat oblong. Moderately laterally compressed. Eyes large. Mouth moderately large, maxilla vertically reaching the posterior edge of orbit. Fourth dorsal
spine longest. Caudal peduncle depth less than eye diameter. Caudal fin forked, lobes rounded.
Colour. Body reddish pink dorsally becoming paler latero-ventrally. Edges of the scales reddish. Head light red, scales on operculum pinkish silver. Prominent black blotch
on opercular membrane, fades or becomes dusky ventrally. Iris dark reddish with a black blotch dorsally. Axil of pectoral fin blackish. Dorsal fin spines reddish to pink;
outer portions of membrane red, lower part whitish. Soft dorsal, anal and caudal rays reddish yellow with a whitish leading edge, followed by a black streak. Pelvic fin
rays pinkish white with a whitish outer edge, followed by reddish band. Pectoral fin pale red to transparent.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 23cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Inhabits coral and rocky reefs and in lagoons (depth 2-21m). Feeds on zooplankton at night and shelters under ledges and in caves during the day.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery, similarity to other species means it is unclear how relatively
abundant it is in the catch.
Notes:
References:
Chao, N.L. et al. (2010). Myripristis seychellensis (errata version 2017). The IUCN Red List 2010: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T155008A4693443.en. (29/04/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/7823 (08/06/19).
Nair, R.J. & Dineshkumar, S. (2016). New distributional records of three soldier fishes (Pisces: Holocentridae: Myripristis) from Indian waters. Marine Biodiversity Records (2016) 9:89
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Myripristis seychellensis, Seychelles soldier. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/myripristis-seychellensis-cuvier-1829/ (edited 06/07/22).