Soldierfish 17" Plush

The scientific name of the Japanese soldierfish is Ostichthys japonicus - Common English names for include Japanese soldierfish, brocade perch, and giant squirrelfish, the latter two evoking its ornate scale patterns and large size relative to other squirrelfishes. In Japan, it is known as ebisudai, combining Ebisu—a deity associated with fishermen and good fortune—with dai, a term for certain perch-like fishes. The vernacular "soldierfish" applies broadly to the subfamily Myripristinae, stemming from the fishes' robust bodies, prominent spines, and tendency to align in orderly schools reminiscent of military formations.