One-stripe Fusilier

Pterocaesio tessellata is a spesies of fusiliers found in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Description

Body is light bluish green dorsally, white ventrally. Tips of caudal lobes are black. Scales on upper 2/3 of body lighter than distal portion. Usually 5 rows of scales on cheek; 22-29 predorsal scales; scaled dorsal and anal fins. Upper peduncular scale rows usually 11-13 (11-14). Lower peduncular scale rows 15-17. Supra-temporal band of scales confluent at dorsal midline. 2 Post maxillary processes; posterior end of maxilla tapered. Horizontal stripe is yellow covering lateral line scales. Head length 3.2-3.7 in SL; body depth 3.3-4.4 in SL.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Sri Lanka to Vanuatu.

Habitat

It inhabits clear coastal to outer reef slopes or drop-offs. Feeds on zooplankton in midwater aggregations. Oviparous, with numerous, small pelagic eggs. Caught mainly by drive-in-nets.