| Family: |
Lutjanidae (Snappers), subfamily: Apsilinae |
| Max. size: |
50 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 5 - 250 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Austral Islands, north to southern Japan, south to southeastern Australia. Paracaesio xanthura, a complex of variable populations, may compose a single or two (or more) species. Paracaesio pedleyi, from Lord Howe Island, Middleton Reef, and eastern Australian waters, is included here with some reservation (Ref. 9821). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body relatively deep and laterally compressed, greatest body depth 2.5-2.8 in SL; interorbital region convex; mouth terminal, jaws about equal; anterior end of upper lip without a thick fleshy protrusion; maxilla with or without scales and without longitudinal ridges; teeth in jaws caniniform to villiform; gill rakers of first gill arch 5-11 + 18-20; soft rays of dorsal fin usually 10, in anal fin 8; lateral line scales 70-72; caudal fin forked. Colour bright blue; broad yellow band over most of dorsal half of body, including most of caudal pedincle fin (Ref. 9821, 90102). |
| Biology: |
Adults occur over rocky bottoms, sometimes forming large schools. They feed largely on zooplankton (Ref. 30573). Caught mainly with handlines and bottom longlines and marketed fresh or frozen (Ref. 9821). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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