Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Caesionidae (Fusiliers) > Caesioninae
Etymology: Pterocaesio: Greek, pteron = wing, fin + Latin, caesius = blue grey (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 402). Tropical, preferred ?; 30°N - 24°S, 97°E - 171°E (Ref. 402)
Western Pacific: Indonesia and western Australia to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan. Recently reported from Norfolk Island (Ref. 8881) and Tonga (Ref. 53797). Report from Réunion (Ref. 4517) is probably a misidentification of Pterocaesio marri.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 21.3 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 402)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 10;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 14-16;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 11 - 12. Body blue to greenish dorsally, white ventrally. With two thin yellow to orange lines; lower line mostly just below lateral line. Black tips on caudal fin (Ref. 48636). 4-5 scales on cheek; 24-31 predorsal scales; scaled dorsal and anal fins. Upper peduncular scale rows usually 12 or 13 (11-14); lower peduncular scale rows usually 16 or 17 (16-18). A broad process on ventrolateral surface of basioccipital for attachment of Baudelot's ligament, extending ventrally beyond a horizontal with condyle's rim, adjacent to condyle. Post maxillary with 2 processes; posterior end of maxilla tapered (Ref. 1723). Head length 3.0-3.5 in SL; body depth 3.5-4.1 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Found in coastal areas, primarily around coral reefs (Ref. 402), turning bright red (Ref. 48636). Feed on zooplankton in midwater aggregations (Ref. 402). Oviparous, with numerous, small pelagic eggs (Ref. 402).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Mating behavior observed from an aquarium include six distinguishable patterns: 1) up and down swimming; 2) courtship; 3) rushing; 4) pair spawning; 5) sperm release by sneakers; and 6) post spawning (Ref. 37529).
At nearly sunset, the usual quiet pack of fish give way to spawners swimming at the surface. A male selects a female and initiates pecking and pushing of the female's abdomen with his snout. At the rushing stage, the male pushed the female forward, and the couple began to swim in a semicircle in short bursts while other 10-15 sneakers within the school joined in. The initial couple then released eggs and sperm at the surface with their abdomens facing one another. Some of the leading sneakers may also release sperm at the same spot where the initial couple spawned. After spawning, the pair with the sneakers return to the school (Ref. 37529).
Carpenter, K.E., 1987. Revision of the Indo-Pacific fish family Caesionidae (Lutjanoidea), with descriptions of five new species. Indo-Pac. Fish. (15):56 p. (Ref. 1723)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01148 (0.00630 - 0.02093), b=3.16 (3.00 - 3.32), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.48 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-3).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (31 of 100) .
