Fish Identification Photos: Panamic Soldierfish, Crimson Soldierfish, Myripristis leiognathos: The Panamic Soldierfish is characterized by overall red coloration with dark scale margins and vague stripes along its sides.

The Panamic Soldierfish is nocturnal, found hiding in small caves and crevices during the daytime and appearing in the surge zone in the first 25 feet of the water column at night. Its primary food is small crustaceans. It can grow up to 7 inches in length.

The Panamic Soldierfishfish might be confused with the Tinsel Squirrelfish, Sargocentron suborbitalis (prominent preopercular spine and long third anal spine), or the Big Scale Soldierfish, Myripristris berndti (orange dorsal fin, black bar around the gill cover and white tipped fins).

The Panamic Soldierfish is a member of the Holocentridae Family. Fish of the genius Myripristis have been given the name "soldierfish" because they swim in schooling formation. They lack the spine that originates from the cheek found in other members of the Holocentridae family.

In general, Holocentridae are all reddish in color, nocturnal with large eyes, and have many strong fin spines and prickly scales.

They also have seven soft rays in the pelvic fins, a characteristic that distinguishes them from most other spiny-rayed reef fishes. Globally, 65 species of Holocentridae have been identified of which only two live in the Sea of Cortez.

The Panamic Soldierfish is found in all Mexican waters with the exception of the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula north of Guerrero Negro.

Panamic Soldierfish, Crimson Soldierfish, Myripristis leiognathos: Caught at night near Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico Description and photo courtesy Jeff Petersen and the Carnaderos baitsellers cooperativa. Fish identification courtesy Neff Nash.