Bigscale Soldierfish

Myripristis berndti

The bigscale soldierfish (Myripristis berndti), also known as Berndts soldierfish or blotcheye soldierfish, is a medium-sized nocturnal reef fish reaching about 30 cm in length. It has a laterally compressed body with very large, light-sensitive eyes adapted for night vision, a bright red to pink-red body with silvery overtones, and distinctively large scales. The dorsal fin has a white leading edge, and a dark opercular bar marks the gill cover. During the day, soldierfish shelter in caves, under ledges, and in deep crevices, often forming dense aggregations of dozens of individuals that face outward from their shelter. At dusk, they emerge to feed on zooplankton, larval fish, and small crustaceans in the water column above the reef. Their large eyes are highly reflective, creating dramatic red-eye effects in dive lights and camera strobes. This species is found throughout the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea to Hawaii and the eastern Pacific, making it one of the most widely distributed soldierfish. The sight of a cave full of bright red soldierfish is a common highlight of tropical reef dives.