BLOTCH-EYE SOLDIERFISH
Myripristis murdjan (Forsskål, 1775)
   Soldierfishes tend to be quite similar in color, size, and habits and some species can be quite hard to tell apart. While divemaster at Midway Atoll in the mid 1990s, Keoki Stender was the first to recognize this species as occurring in the Hawaian chain. It resembles the common Bigscale Soldierfish (Myripristis berndti) but the dorsal fin is red when raised, rather than yellow. The Brick Soldierfish (M. amaena) has a red dorsal, but lacks white on the leading edges of its fins. So far, the Blotch-Eye has not been recorded from the main Hawaiian Islands, but few divers would take notice it if they saw it. If you photograph one in Hawaii, let me know. The species has an Indo-Pacific distribution and attains about 11 in.

More information on this species can be found in Reef and Shore Fishes of the Hawaiian Islands by Dr. John E. Randall.