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Holocentriformes (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes) >
Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes) > Myripristinae
Etymology: Myripristis: Greek, myros, -ou = male of morey eel + Greek, pristis = saw (Ref. 45335); earlei: Named in honor of John L. Earle who first suspected that this species differed from M. berndti (Ref. 49349).
Eponymy: John L Earle is a founder member of the Association for Marine Exploration. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Randall, Allen & Robertson.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 37 m (Ref. 49349). Tropical
Eastern Central Pacific: Phoenix and Marquesas islands. Previously regarded as an insular variant of Myripristis berndti (Ref. 49349).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 24.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 54980)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 12 - 13; Vertebrae: 26. No small scales or only a few ventrally in axil of pectoral fins; body depth 2.25-2.5 in SL; interorbital width 4.35-5.1 in HL; lower jaw only slightly projecting when mouth fully closed (may be moderately projecting in large adults); a single pair of tooth patches outside gape at front of lower jaw; vomerine tooth patch subtriangular, with a straight posterior edge; spinous portion of dorsal fin mainly red; no white leading edge on 2nd dorsal, anal, or caudal fins (Ref. 49349).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Observed in caves and under ledges (Ref. 49349). Feeds on zooplanktons (Ref. 89972).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and D.R. Robertson, 2003. Myripristis earlei, a new soldierfish (Beryciformes: Holocentridae) from the Marquesas and Phoenix islands. Zool. Stud. 43(3):405-410. (Ref. 49349)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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