About Myripristis berndti Jordan & Evermann, 1903
Myripristis berndti, commonly called Blotcheye soldierfish, reaches a maximum total length of 30 centimetres (12 inches). Its body is oval-shaped, laterally compressed, and covered in quite large scales. The species’ base body colour ranges from silvery pink to pale yellowish, with red edges on each scale. Its opercular membrane is black. The large, spiny dorsal fin is coloured yellow to orange-yellow, while all other fins are red with white edges. This species has large eyes, as it is primarily nocturnal. When its mouth is closed, the lower jaw extends past the upper jaw. Myripristis berndti typically forms mixed-species aggregations, and feeds mainly on plankton. It is caught for commercial fisheries, and is also sold in the aquarium trade. This species has a wide distribution across the Indian and Pacific oceans. It inhabits tropical reefs, where it hides in caves or under ledges at depths between 1 and 50 metres (3 to 164 feet).
