Myripristis adusta is the largest species of the genus, and its size and distinctive colouration make it relatively easy to identify, especially in the Maldives.
Details
§ 01
size
Common to 25 cm; max. 32 cm
color
Silvery, suffused with pale salmon, distinctive black blotches on soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Spiny dorsal black except for clear stripe in the middle. Head dark.
The Soldierfish prefers to inhabit shallow waters near coral reefs rather than depths of 30 m. During the day, it hides in caves, and at night it feeds mainly on larger zooplankton.
distinctive characters
The dorsal fin has 10 spines followed by one spine and 14-16 rays, the anal fin has 4 spines and 12-14 rays, and the pectoral fin has 15-16 rays. The body is oblong in shape and has a depth of 2.1-2.6 inches in standard length, with the inner pectoral axil being naked except for one (or rarely two) moderate scales on the lower half.