| Family: |
Caesionidae (Fusiliers), subfamily: Caesioninae |
| Max. size: |
40 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 25 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
Indian Ocean: East Africa, including the Red Sea and the Arabian (Persian) Gulf, to western Indonesia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 11-13. Description: Body blue dorsally, white to pale bluish ventrally. Tips of caudal lobes with a large black blotch. Usually 4 rows of cheek scales; 21-26 predorsal scales; scaled dorsal and anal fins; Supra-temporal band of scales interrupted at dorsal midline by a V-shaped scaleless zone. Upper peduncular scale rows usually 11 (10-12); lower peduncular scale rows usually 15 (14-15). A small process on basioccipital for attachment of Baudelot's ligament, separated from condyle by a prominent concavity on ventral surface of basioccipital. Post maxillary process single; posterior end of maxilla blunt (Ref. 402). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits deep lagoons and seaward reefs. Feeds on zooplankton in midwater aggregations. Forms schools with other caesionids. Oviparous, with numerous, small pelagic eggs (Ref. 402). Juveniles used as tuna bait fish. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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