- English Name : Shadowfin soldierfish
- Local Name : Hiyani dhanbodu
- Size : Common to 25 cm; max. 32 cm
- Family : Order : Specimen :
- HOLOCENTRIDAE Beryciformes MRS/0322/88
- Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 10 spines, followed by 1 spine and 14-16 rays. Anal fin with 4 spines and 12-14 rays. Pectoral fin with 15-16 rays. Body depth 2.1-2.6 in standard length. Body oblong, inner pectoral axil naked except for one (rarely two) moderate scales on lower half.
- Colour: Silvery, suffused with pale salmon, distinctive black blotches on soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Spiny dorsal black except for clear stripe in the middle. Head dark.
- Habitat and Biology: Prefers shallow waters around coral reefs to depths of 30 m. Hides in caves during the day. Soldierfish feeds at night mainly on the larger zooplankton.
- Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
- Remarks: Myripristis adusta is the largest species of the genus. Its size and distinctive colouration makes
this species relatively easy to identify. Common in Maldives.