| Habitat | Reproduction |
| Behavior | Diver Interaction |

Scott Michael Photo

Alternate Common Names:

Family Name:
HOLOCENTRIDAE
Click Name for Family Profile

Size:
This species attains a maximum length of 19 cm (7.5 inches), however it rarely exceeds 15 cm (5.9 inches).

Distribution:
East Africa to Line and Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan and Hawaii, south to Lord Howe Island.

Habitat:
The pearly soldierfish occurs on subtidal reef flats, lagoon patch reefs, reef faces and fore reef slopes. It is found at depths of 1 to 26 m (3.3 to 85 feet).

Distinguishing Characteristics:
The pearly soldierfish has smaller scales than similarly colored species and a lighter opercular bar.

Remarks:
This species is very similar to the scarlet soldierfish (Myripristis pralina), which has a preopercular bar that is very short, and does not extend down as far as the pectoral fin axil. The scarlet soldierfish attains a maximum length of 20 cm (7.9 inches) and ranges from East Africa to the Line and Society Islands, north to the Ryukus and south to the Great Barrier Reef.

References:
Hobson (1974), Myers (1989), Randall & Greenfield (1996)

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