Blue and gold fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea)

Scientific name: Caesio caerulaurea Lacep?de, 1801

Blue and gold fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea)

The Blue and gold fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) is a marine fish of the family Caesionidae. Native range: Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia. Absent in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12 - 13. With 3-5 scales on cheek; 22-25 predorsal scales; dorsal and anal fins scaled. Supra-temporal band of scales often interrupted by a V-shaped scaleless zone anteriorly at midline. Upper peduncular scale rows usually 11 (10-12); lower peduncular scale rows usually 15 (14-15). A small process on each ventrolateral surface of basioccipital for attachment of Baudelot's ligament, a prominent concavity on ventral surface of basioccipital separating it from condyle. Post maxillary process single; posterior end of maxilla blunt. Color: Upper body bluish, lower body white to pale bluish. Golden band from above the eye, running straight along the body to upper caudal peduncle and continuing on the caudal fin to the tip of the upper lobe, becoming near black on the fin. A second similar streak in lower lobe.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Caesio caerulaurea
Family
Caesionidae (Fusiliers)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
35.0
Common length
23.5
Depth range
5–50 m (16–164 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 5 - 50 m
Climate
Tropical
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.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; bait: occasionally
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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