Ostichthys japonicus, Japanese soldierfish : fisheries

Ostichthys japonicus (Cuvier, 1829)

Japanese soldierfish
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Image of Ostichthys japonicus (Japanese soldierfish)
Ostichthys japonicus
Picture by Lai, N.-W.

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Holocentriformes (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes) > Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes) > Myripristinae
Etymology: Ostichthys: Greek,osteon = bone + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Cuvier.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 20 - 270 m (Ref. 119380). Tropical

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Indo-Pacific: from the Andaman Sea to the Philippines; north to southern Japan, south to Australia, east to New Caledonia, Fiji, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 45.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2272); common length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9137)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 14. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XI-XII,12-14 (modally XII,13); pectoral-fin rays 15-18 (17); pored lateral-line scales 27-29 (28); scale rows between lateral line and middle of spinous dorsal-fin base 3.5; lower gill rakers, including all rudiments 11-14 (13); middle dorsal-fin spines are relatively short, 7th dorsal-fin spine 11.8-15.0 (mean 13.8) % of SL in 10.0-19.0 cm SL specimens [11.8-22.3 (15.1) % of SL in all examined specimens (3.40-3.37 cm SL)]; the last 3 dorsal-fin spines are relatively short [10th dorsal fin spine 6.2-8.0 (7.2) % of SL, 11th (penultimate) dorsal-fin spine 5.1-6.4 (5.8) % of SL, 12th (posteriormost) dorsal-fin spine 5.5-7.5 (6.4) % of SL in 10.0-19.0 cm SL specimens] [5.8-14.5 (7.9) % of SL, 4.3-10.6 (6.4) % of SL and 4.7-9.6 (6.7) % of SL, respectively, in all examined specimens]; 2nd to 4th anal-fin spines are relatively short [2nd anal-fin spine length 5.1-6.7 (5.6) % of SL, 3rd anal-fin spine length 12.9-15.8 (14.2) % of SL, 4th anal-fin spine length 10.5-13.4 (11.8) % of SL in 10.0-19.0 cm SL specimens] [4.1-9.0 (5.9) % of SL, 11.2-19.0 (14.3) % of SL and 9.2-14.3 (11.6) % of SL, respectively, in all examined specimens]; with a relatively long caudal peduncle, length 10.5-13.3 (12.1) % of SL in 10.0–19.0 cm SL specimens [10.5-14.1 (12.1) % of SL in all examined specimens]; the last dorsal-fin spine is fused to the 1st dorsal-fin soft ray, separation between spine and ray about half that between bases of former and penultimate dorsal-fin spine; 1st body scale row usually below 2nd dorsal-fin spine base (86%), rarely between bases of 1st and 2nd dorsal-fin spines (12%) or 1st dorsal fin spine base (2%); ventral portion of the maxilla is not expanded ventrally, even in large specimens; body scales are with relatively few well-developed, widely separated spinules and a relatively high number of less developed (young) spinules in large specimens > ca. 10.0 cm SL. Colouration: no white bands or spots laterally on body (occasionally white spots in specimens < 10.0 cm SL); a dark red blotch on uppermost part of pectoral-fin base (Ref. 119380).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Found in the sublittoral zone (Ref. 11230). Caught by gill net, line fishing or trawl, in depths of 20-270 m, with the smallest specimen (postlarval stage) (KAUM-I. 97814, 3.95 cm) collected by surface trawl in 20 m depth (Ref. 119380).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Randall, John E. | Collaborators

Matsunuma, M., Y. Fukui and H. Motomura, 2018. Review of the Ostichthys japonicus complex (Beryciformes: Holocentridae: Myripristinae) in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with description of a new species. Ichthyol. Res. 65:285-314. (Ref. 119380)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 04 March 2015

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless





Human uses

Fisheries: commercial
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