Yellow and blueback fusilier (Caesio teres)

Scientific name: Caesio teres Seale, 1906

The Yellow and blueback fusilier (Caesio teres) is a marine fish of the family Caesionidae. Native range: Indo-West Pacific, East Africa to the Line Islands. Not occurring in the Red Sea or the Arabian (Persian) Gulf.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12 - 13. Tail fin and peduncle, and body above a diagonal from just anterior to origin of dorsal fin to ventral origin of caudal peduncle bright yellow (except in large ones in western Pacific, yellow does not extend as far as anteriorly); rest of upper 2/3 of body bright blue; lower third silvery white. Indonesian populations have yellow from origin of dorsal and most of the back to below lateral line over the posterior part and tail. 4-5 scales on cheek; 20-28 predorsal scales; scaled dorsal and anal fins; Supra-temporal band of scales interrupted at dorsal midline by a scaleless zone. Upper peduncular scale rows 11-13; lower peduncular scale rows usually 15 or 16 (14-17). A small process on each ventrolateral surface of basioccipital for attachment of Baudelot's ligament.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Caesio teres
Family: Caesionidae (Fusiliers)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 40.0
Common length: 26.6
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: East Africa to the Line Islands. Not occurring in the Red Sea or the Arabian (Persian) Gulf.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial
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.

Last updated 27 September 2026