- English Name : Blotcheye soldierfish
- Local Name : Kothari reendhoo dhanbodu Size : Common to 22 cm; max. 30 cm
- Family : Order : Specimen :
- HOLOCENTRIDAE Beryciformes MRS/0323/88
- Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 10 spines, followed by 1 spine and 13-15 rays. Anal fin with 4 spines and 11-13 rays. Pectoral fin with 15 rays, pelvic fin with 1 spine and 7 rays. Body depth 2.3-2.6 in standard length. Body oblong. Lower jaw of adults prominently projecting when mouth closed; a single pair of tooth patches at front of lower jaw. Lateral line scales 28-31.
- Colour: Silvery pink; a broad zone of orange-yellow on outer part of spiny dorsal fin. Leading edges of soft dorsal, caudal and pelvic fins white. Centres of scales silvery pink to pale yellowish; edges red.
- Habitat and Biology: Prefers shallow waters (usually depths of 3-15 m) around coral reefs or rocky bottoms, which may be exposed to surge. Hides in caves during the day.
- Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
- Remarks: Myripristis berndti is the most likely to be confused with M. murdjan, but the two species can be separated on the colouration of their spiny dorsal fins. M. berndti has an orange-red spiny dorsal like M. kuntee. These two species can be separated on lateral line scale counts. The strongly projecting lower jaw is a particular helpful character for identification.