Whitetip Soldierfish

Myripristis vittata is a Soldierfish from the Indo-Pacific.

Description

Bright red with small scales and indistinct scale margins, white tips on 1st dorsal fin spines, and white edges on fins. Dark opercular bar absent or indistinct compared to other soldierfishes. It grows to a size of 25 centimeters in length or about 9.8 inches.

Distribution

Myripristis vittata is recorded to live in the areas of Indo-Pacific, mainly from oceanic islands, from the Mascarene Islands and Seychelles to French Polynesia, and the Hawaiian Islands.

Habitat

Myripristis vittata is found in marine environments within reef-associated areas. They occupy the depth range of about 3 – 80 meters, but more specifically this species stays in the depth range of about 15 – 80 meters. This species is native to a tropical environment. This species is usually found in small groups and sometimes forms large schools. They are recorded to swim upside down occasionally. This species is nocturnal and it feeds on plankton.

Uses

Myripristis vittata occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.