Saddle-back snapper (Paracaesio kusakarii)

Scientific name: Paracaesio kusakarii Abe, 1960

The Saddle-back snapper (Paracaesio kusakarii) is a marine fish of the family Lutjanidae. Native range: Western Pacific, Samoa to Taiwan and Singapore and from the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands southward to New Caledonia and northeastern Australia.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Eye large, about 3.6 times in head length. Interorbital space convex. Large specimens developing a hump on forehead. Lower jaw protruding slightly. Maxilla scaled. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Pectoral fins long, reaching level of anus. Back and upper sides brown; remainder of head and body silvery white with 4 broad vertical bars on upper side. Fins grayish, whitish or slightly yellowish.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Paracaesio kusakarii
Family: Lutjanidae (Snappers)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 60.0
Depth range: 100–310 m (328–1017 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 100 - 310 m, usually 125 - 250 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Pacific: Samoa to Taiwan and Singapore and from the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands southward to New Caledonia and northeastern Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026