Dark-banded Fusilier

Pterocaesio tile is a fish belonging to the family Caesionidae.

Description

P. tile can reach a length of 25 cm (9.8 in). The back of the body is dark blue, while the flanks show a bluish-green strike with a black stripe along the lateral line. The lower third of the body varies from white to pinkish. The lower half of the body turns bright red at night (hence the common name neon fusilier). It is oviparous and not migratory; it feeds on zooplankton.

Distribution and habitat

This species is widespread in Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, southern Japan, Mauritius, and the Austral Islands. P. tile is a coral-reef associated species. It usually can be found in lagoon and on the reef flats at depths to 60 m (200 ft).