Pinecone soldierfish
Myripristis murdjan
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Pinecone soldierfish
- Scientific
- Myripristis murdjan
- Dhivehi
- ބެރެބެދި ދަންބޮޑުBerebedhi dhanbodu
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 60 cm (total length); commonly 18 cm (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives common to 18 cm; max. 27 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 1 to 50 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
A red soldierfish with large eyes, a bright red outer spiny dorsal fin and white leading edges to the soft fins. It hovers under ledges and in caves by day, sometimes in huge aggregations, and feeds on crab larvae and other zooplankton at night.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name berebedhi dhanbodu (MRS 1997). MRS notes it is common in the Maldives.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Myripristis-murdjan.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=5408&GenusName=Myripristis&SpeciesNam
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ބެރެބެދި_ދަންބޮޑު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Pez_soldado_rojo_(Myripristis_murdjan),_Yeda,_Arabia_Saudit
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Berebedhi dhanbodu' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) agrees: 'Dhanbodu'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ބެރެބެދި ދަންބޮޑު' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Lobodubarihi' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used. FLAG: the source states no traditional name was recorded and this descriptive name was coined for the book; it is not an established fishermen's name.