Scientific Name
Paracaesio xanthura

Common Name
Yellowtail blue snapper

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Eye large; snout short, about equal to, or shorter than eye diameter. Interorbital space convex. Maxilla with or without scales. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Pectoral fins long, reaching level of anus. Overall color is blue, sometimes whitish on belly and lower part of the head. A broad bright yellow stripe on the upper back extending from the forehead to the base of the caudal fin. The dorsal and caudal fins yellow, the other fins whitish or translucent.

Classification

Classified By

Bleeker, 1869

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snappers (Lutjanidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Austral Islands, north to southern Japan, south to southeastern Australia. Paracaesio xanthura, a complex of variable populations, may compose a single or two (or more) species. Paracaesio pedleyi, from Lord Howe Island, Middleton Reef, and eastern Australian waters, is included here with some reservation (Ref. 9821).

Range

35°N - 35°S, 37°E - 169°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

150 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 150 m (Ref. 9821)

Trophic Level

3.4 s.e. 0.45 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

50.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5039 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated