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Pterocaesio tile (Cuvier, 1830) Dark-banded fusilier |
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photo by
Randall, J.E. |
| Family: | Caesionidae (Fusiliers), subfamily: Caesioninae | |||
| Max. size: | 30 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 60 m, non-migratory | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-Pacific: East Africa, not including the Red Sea or the Arabian (Persian) Gulf, to the Tuamoto Archipelago, as far north as southern Japan and south to Mauritius and the Austral Islands. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 10-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-22; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 13-13. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D X-XII,19-22 (rarely X); A III,13; dorsal and anal fins scaly; pectoral rays 22-24; two postmaxillary processes; small conical teeth in jaws; scales on lateral line 69-76 (usually 71), above to dorsal-fin origin 7-8, below to anal-fin origin 14-17; predorsal scales 24-32; greatest body depth 3.3-5.4 in SL; head length 3.4-3.9 in SL; lateral line covered for most of its length by a black stripe about 1 scale wide (on caudal peduncle this stripe is above lateral line); a brilliant light blue zone below black stripe, usually covering middle third of body, but sometimes restricted to anterior part of body, and sometimes absent; lower third of body white to pinkish (or reddish); pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins white to pinkish; axil and upper base of pectoral fins black; dorsal fin light bluish green to pinkish; caudal fin with a black streak within each lobe, the upper streak continuous with lateral stripe (Ref. 68703, 90102). | |||
| Biology: | Ranges widely around coral reefs. Juveniles occasionally appear in large numbers in shallow lagoons and on reef flats (Ref. 9710). Feeds on zooplankton in midwater aggregations. Oviparous, with numerous, small pelagic eggs (Ref. 402). Also caught by drive-in nets. Tuna baitfish. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 March 2015 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||