Big Eye Soldierfish

This species is distinguished by the following characters: robust and compressed body with big eyes; lower jaw with one pair of tooth patches at front of lower jaw just outside of gape; lower jaw of adults slightly projecting when mouth closed; gill rakers on first gill arch 11-15 (modally 13) on upper limb, total 36-44 (modally 39); lateral line scales 27-32 (modally 29); lower half to ¾ of axil of pectoral fins with small scales; interorbital space broad, its width 3.65- 4.4 times in head length. Colour of body red to dusky red, the edges of scales reddish brown; opercular membrane dark brown to black to about level of middle of eye; axil of pectoral fins dark brown to black; spinous dorsal fin light red on basal two-thirds, bright red on outer third; leading edges of soft dorsal, anal, caudal, and pelvic fins white (Ref. 12419, 40493).

Oviparous (Ref. 240).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Analspines: 4; Analsoft rays: 11 - 14

Inhabits reef flats and seaward reefs to a depth of at least 37 m (in the Red Sea) (Ref 1602); and shallow lagoons (Ref. 12419). Benthopelagic in or near crevices and caves (Ref. 58302). Mainly nocturnal. Feeds mainly on plankton such as crab larvae (Ref. 12419). Secretive, hovering under ledges and in caves (Ref. 37816). Also Ref. 58534.

Occur in reef flats and shallow lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 12419). Benthopelagic in or near crevices and caves (Ref. 58302). Mainly nocturnal. Feed mainly on plankton such as crab larvae (Ref. 12419). Secretive, hovering under ledges and in caves (Ref. 37816). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 240).

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

廣泛分布於印度-太平洋區之溫熱帶海域， 西起紅海，延伸至南非，東至大洋洲，北至琉球群島，南至澳洲。臺灣各海域均產。

一般以一支釣及延繩釣的方法捕獲。魚肉白，但質地較爛，煮湯時肉易散開且多溶解油質，因此適合抹鹽油煎食用。唯須注意其內臟可能累積熱帶海魚毒。而它的鱗片及棘刺尖利，需小心刺傷。在水族館中也有人看上它鮮紅的體色，將它飼養做為觀賞魚。

體呈橢圓形或卵圓形，中等側扁。頭部具黏液囊，外露骨骼多有脊紋。眼大。口端位，斜裂；下頜骨前端外側有1對頜聯合齒；頜骨、鋤骨及腭骨均有絨毛狀群齒。前鰓蓋骨後下角無強棘；鰓蓋骨及下眼眶骨均有強弱不一的硬棘。體被大型櫛鱗；側線完全，側線鱗數側線鱗數27-29，側線至背鰭硬棘中間點之鱗片數2.5；胸鰭腋部1/4-3/4處具小鱗片。背鰭連續，單一，硬棘部及軟條部間具深凹，具硬棘X-I，軟條13-15。臀鰭有硬棘 IV ，軟條12-14；胸鰭軟條14-15；尾鰭深叉形。鰓膜至胸鰭基間有一條暗深紅色之帶斑。體背部紅色，腹部則淡紅，各鰭紅色，腹鰭棘則為白色。過去所紀錄之/M. seychellensis/為本種之誤鑑。

夜行性魚類，白天可能單獨一尾或成一小群聚集躲在幽暗的礁石岩穴中休息，夜晚則外出覓食。幼魚較常出現在淺海或潮池中，成熟的赤鋸鱗則會到大約水深30-50公尺左右較深的海底。肉食性的它以較大型的浮游動物為食物，且因為它的上下頜具有短小簇生的犬齒，最適合捕食小型的甲殼類底棲生物。由於常在砂底覓食所以胃中常雜有大量的泥沙。

Myripristis murdjan is a species of soldierfish found in the Indo-Pacific.

Occurs in reef flats and shallow lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of at least 37 m (in the Red Sea). Is mainly nocturnal. Feeds mainly on plankton such as crab larvae.

Known from seamounts and knolls