Blotch-eye soldierfish

Tahitian names

I’ihi

Interesting facts

This soldierfish has a silver-pink, oval shaped body, with red scales. A black crescent spot extends from the top of the operculum to the base of the pectoral fin. The first dorsal fin is red. The remaining median fins and the pelvic fins are red with white stripes. The specie grows up to 11 inches in length. This species is normally found in caves and crevices of the lagoon during the day and comes out at night to hunt its favorite prey: the zooplankton. We often see the Blotch-eye soldierfish in large school, sometimes mixed with other soldierfish species.

 

 

 

sources & credits

P. Bacchet, T. Zysman, Y. Lefèvre, 2010. Guide des poissons de Tahiti et ses îles. Au vent des îles. 3e édition.