Myripristis kuntee Cuvier, 1831

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English Name: Shoulderbar soldierfish
Family: HOLOCENTRIDAE
Local Name: Fahdhemi dhanbodu
Order: Beryciformes
Size: Common to 16 cm; max. 20 cm
Specimen: MRS/0195/88



Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 10 spines, followed by 1 spine and 15-17 rays. Anal fin with 4 spines and 14-16 rays. Pectoral fin with 15 rays. Body depth 2.2-2.9 in standard length. Body oblong. Third anal spine shorter than fourth. Small scales; lateral line scales 37-44.

Colour: Light red. Dark red-brown bar across top of gill opening to pectoral axil. Spiny dorsal orange. All fins with white leading edges; red pigment concentrated at tips of soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins.

Habitat and Biology: Occurs in shallow waters around coral reefs to depths of 10 m. Nocturnal.

Distribution: Indo-Pacific.

Remarks: Myripristis kuntee is apparently closely related to M. pralinia. However, M. kuntee has a broad rectangular dark bar running from the upper edge of the gill opening to the axil of the pectoral, while the shoulder bar is more restricted in M. pralinia.