Fish
Soldier Bream
Argyrops filamentosus
A silvery seabream that flies a banner of long, filamentous dorsal spines above its back.
Also known as soldaat
- Typical size
- Attains about 70 cm
- Habitat
- Western Indian Ocean, into Natal (rare)
The soldier bream is a sparid seabream whose front dorsal spines are drawn out into long filaments; the third spine runs to about twice the length of the fourth and longer than the head in all but the largest fish, while the first two spines are tiny.
It ranges through the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean and reaches Natal, though it is rare in our waters. It grows to around 70 cm.