Scissor-tailed Fusilier

Caesio caerulaurea is a species of marine fish in the family Caesionidae. It is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area, including the Red Sea. This fish can reach a maximum size of 35 cm in length, but its common length is 23.5 cm.

Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12. This species is distinguished by the following characters: postmaxillary process single; A III,12 (rarely 13); lateral line scales 57-65 (usually around 61); scale rows on spinous part of dorsal fin horizontal; supratemporal bands of scales often interrupted at dorsal midline by a scaleless zone, always a V-shaped scaleless zone anteriorly at midline intruding between the supratemporal band of scales. Body colour with upper body bluish and the lower white to pale bluish; a single yellow or golden stripe directly above lateral line except on caudal peduncle where it is about 1 scale above lateral line, the yellow stripe 2 or 3 scales wide, bordered directly above and below by a white or light blue stripe which is about 1 scale wide, caudal-fin lobes with a black median streak.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia. Absent in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf.

Habitat and Biology

Inhabits deep lagoons and seaward reefs. Feeds on zooplankton in midwater aggregations. Adults are found in schools in deep lagoons and along seaward reefs in coastal areas, mixing with other species of fusiliers. Juveniles are used as tuna bait fish. They are oviparous, with small pelagic eggs.