Source: FAO 2002.
| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Holocentridae | Plectrypops retrospinis | (Guichenot) | 1853 | Cardinal Soldierfish |
Plectrypops retrospinis
Unique Characters: Preopercle crescentric, usually without a single spine (Corniger has 1 or 2 strong spines). 10 or 11 spines in anterior portion of dorsal fin and always 1 spine in posterior portion. Anal-fin rays more than 10. 11 spines in anterior portion of dorsal fin, 1 in posterior portion. First gill arch with 7-17 gill rakers on lower limb (including 1 at angle), total gill rakers 18-27. No dark bar from upper gill opening to pectoral-fin axil. Long spines present on suborbital bones. Premaxillary groove not broadly V-shaped. Body bright red, no white bands in life. Suborbital spines slender, curved, partly antrorse (forward pointing). Preopercular spines small; last dorsal-fin spine shorter than penultimate. Lateral-line scales 32-42. Premaxillary groove rhomboidal.
Similar Species:
Blackbar Squirrelfish, Myripristis jacobus
Blackbar Squirrelfish, Myripristis jacobus. Preopercle crescentric, usually without a single spine. 10 or 11 spines in anterior portion of dorsal fin and always 1 spine in posterior portion; anal-fin rays more than 10. Ten spines in anterior portion of dorsal fin, 1 in posterior portion. First gill arch with 20-22 gill rakers on lower limb (including 1 at angle), total gill rakers 27-32. A dark bar from upper edge of gill opening to pectoral-fin axil.
Bigeye Soldierfish, Ostichthys trachypoma
Photo Credit: Scott Van Sant
Bigeye Soldierfish, Ostichthys trachypoma. Preopercle crescentric, usually without a single spine. 10 or 11 spines in anterior portion of dorsal fin and always 1 spine in posterior portion; anal-fin rays more than 10. Eleven spines in anterior portion of dorsal fin, 1 in posterior portion. First gill arch with 7-7 gill rakers on lower limb (including 1 at angle), total gill rakers 18-27. No dark bar from upper gill opening to pectoral-fin axil. No spines on suborbital bones. Premaxillary groove broadly V-shaped. Body with alternating broad red and white bands running length of body in life.
Spinycheek Soldierfish, Corniger spinosus
Spinycheek Soldierfish, Corniger spinosus. Preopercle crescentric, usually without a single spine (Corniger has 1 or 2 strong spines). 10 or 11 spines in anterior portion of dorsal fin and always 1 spine in posterior portion. Anal-fin rays more than 10. 11 spines in anterior portion of dorsal fin, 1 in posterior portion. First gill arch with 7-17 gill rakers on lower limb (including 1 at angle), total gill rakers 18-27. No dark bar from upper gill opening to pectoral-fin axil. Long spines present on suborbital bones. Premaxillary groove not broadly V-shaped. Body bright red, no white bands in life. Suborbital spines long, strong, retrorse (directed posteriorly. 2 enlarged preopercular spines present. Last dorsal-fin spine equal to or longer than penultimate. Lateral-line scales 28-30. Premaxillary groove oblong.