Caesio caerulaurea

Last updated

Caesio caerulaurea
Caesio caerulaurea Reunion.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Caesionidae
Genus: Caesio
Species:
C. caerulaurea
Binomial name
Caesio caerulaurea
Lacepède, 1801
Synonyms [2]

Caesio caerulaurea, the blue and gold fusilier (not to be confused with Caesio teres), blue fusilier, gold-band fusilier or scissor-tailed fusilier, is a species of marine fish in the family Caesionidae. It is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area, including the Red Sea.

Contents

Taxonomy

Caesio caerulaurea was first formally described in 1801 by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède with the type locality given as Molucca in Indonesia. [3] Lacépède used the name Caesio caerulaureus, although this was later corrected to C. caetulaurea as Caesio is feminine, creating a new genus. In 1876 the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker designated C. caerulaurea as the type species of the genus Caesio. [4] The specific name caerluaurea is a derived from caeruleaus meaning "sky blue" and aureus which means "golden", a reference to the blue back and yellow flank stripe Lacépède described. [5]

Description

Caesio caeruaurea has a quite deep, fusiform, elongated body which shows moderate lateral compression. There are small conical teeth in the jaws as well as on the vomer and the palatine. [6] The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 14-16 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 10-12 soft rays. [2] The dorsal and anal fins have scales. [6] This species attains a maximum total length of 35 cm (14 in), although 25 cm (9.8 in) is more typical. [2] The overall colour of this fusilier is bluish fusilier changing to white on the underside. There is a yellow or golden stripe over the lateral line bordered on both sides by a thin white to pale blue stripe which continues as blackish streaks on both lobes of the forked caudal fin, creating the appearance of scissors. [7]

Distribution and habitat

Caesio caerulaurea has a wide distribution in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. It is found along the eastern coast of Africa from the Red Sea as far south as South Africa then east along through the Indian Ocean, although it is absent from the Persian Gulf into the Pacific. In the Pacific Ocean their range extends east as far as French Polynesia, northwards to southern Japan and south as far as Vanuatu and New Caledonia. [1] In Australia it is found from Shark Bay in Western Australia north to Cassini Island, the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea and from the northern Great Barrier Reef off, Queensland south to Sydney. It also occurs at Christmas Island and Lord Howe Island. [7] It occurs at depths between 2 and 40 m (6 ft 7 in and 131 ft 3 in). [1] This species occurs on coastal, lagoon and seaward reefs, typically where there is a healthy growth of corals. [7]

Biology

Caesio caerulaurea (Lacepede, 1801) Caesio caerulaurea (Lacepede, 1801).jpg
Caesio caerulaurea (Lacepède, 1801)

Caesio caerulaurea forms large schools in midwater where they feed on zooplankton. They attain sexual maturity quite early, have a high fecundity with numerous small pelagic eggs. Spawning takes place during most of the year, and occurs as mass spawning on lunar cycles. [1]

Spawning behaviour

Caesio caerulaurea has a definite pattern of courtship with six distinct patterns. Firstly as the dusk approaches 1-2 males approach a female and start to nip and butt her abdomen, which is swollen. This takes place 60-90 minutes ahead of spawning. The fish then interrupt this behaviour and return to their shoals. Less than 60 minutes prior to actual spawning 2-6 males will compete to get their abdomen as close to the female’s as they can. Once a male has excluded the other males the pair swim upwards in a spiral to the surface where the eggs and milt are released. This is followed by other “sneaker” males who release their own milt at the spot where the original pair spawned. Sometimes a pair can avoid being followed by “sneaker” males. [2]

Fisheries

Port Moresby Fish Market Port Moresby Fish Market.jpg
Port Moresby Fish Market

Caesio caerulaurea is an important quarry for coastal fisheries, and is frequently recorded in fish markets in Indonesia and the Philippines. They are caught using drive-in nets, gill nets, fish traps, trawls and handlines. The juveniles are used as tuna baitfish in some areas. It is normally caught as part of a multispecies catches of fusiliers. There is also illegal fishing of this species using blasts from explosives thrown in the sea.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caesionidae</span> Family of fishes

Caesionidae, the fusiliers, are a family of marine ray-finned fishes in the order Perciformes. The family includes about 23 species. They are related to the snappers, but adapted for feeding on plankton, rather than on larger prey. They are found at reefs in the Indo-Pacific and in the Red Sea.

<i>Lutjanus</i> Genus of fishes

Lutjanus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, snappers belonging to the family Lutjanidae. They are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. They are predatory fish usually found in tropical and subtropical reefs, and mangrove forests. This genus also includes two species that only occur in fresh and brackish waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailfin snapper</span> Species of fish

The sailfin snapper, blue-lined sea bream or blue-lined sea perch is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region. The sailfin snapper is targeted in mixed-species fisheries throughout its range. In areas such as the Philippines it is known to be overfished, while in others, for example Palau, pressure is lighter. It is caught predominantly using handlines and bottom trawling. The juveniles appear in the aquarium trade. It is currently the only known member of its genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowback fusilier</span> Species of fish

The yellowback fusilier is a pelagic marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific, being found in shallow water from the East African coast to Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldband fusilier</span> Species of fish

The gold-band fusilier also known as the yellow-band fusilier or black-tipped fusilier, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It is widespread around reefs in the Indo-West Pacific region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark-banded fusilier</span> Species of fish

The dark-banded fusilier, also known as blue-streak fusilier, bluedash fusilier, or neon fusilier, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It has a wide Indo-West Pacific range. It is of some importance to fisheries within its range.

<i>Pterocaesio</i> Genus of fishes

Pterocaesio is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, fuiliers belonging to the family Caesionidae. They are native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Caesio</i> Genus of fishes

Caesio is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, fusiliers belonging to the family Caesionidae. They are native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, although one species has invaded the eastern Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal by Lessepsian migration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mottled fusilier</span> Species of fish

The mottled fusilier is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It has a broad Indo-Pacific distribution. Once thought to be a monotypic genus, a second species Dipterygonotus marisrubri has also been described.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slender fusilier</span> Species of fish

The slender fusilier is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It is native to tropical reefs in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, it is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries. This species is the only known member of its genus.

<i>Caesio teres</i> Species of fish

Caesio teres, the yellow and blueback fusilier, beautiful fusilier, blue and gold fusilier or yellow-tail fusilier, is a species of marine, pelagic ray-finned fish belonging to the family Caesionidae. It occurs in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunar fusilier</span> Species of fish

The lunar fusilier, also known as the blue fusilier or moon fusilier, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific area.

<i>Caesio varilineata</i> Species of fish

Caesio varilineata, the variable-lined fusilier or thin-lined fusilier, is a species of pelagic marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Pterocaesio pisang</i> Species of fish

Pterocaesio pisang, the banana fusilier or ruddy fusilier, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It is widespread around reefs in the Indo-West Pacific region.

<i>Caesio cuning</i> Species of fish

Caesio cuning, the redbelly yellowtail fusilier, yellowtail fusilier, red-bellied fusilier or robust fusilier, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It is native to the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.

<i>Pterocaesio marri</i> Species of fish

Pterocaesio marri, Marr's fusilier, bigtail fusilier, blacktip fusilier, bananafish or twinstripe fusilier is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It is widespread around reefs in the Indo-West Pacific region.

<i>Caesio suevica</i> Species of fish

Caesio suevica, the Suez fusilier, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It is endemic to the Red Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double-lined fusilier</span> Species of fish

The double-lined fusilier, also known as the double stripe fusilier or blacktipped fusilier, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a fusilier belonging to the family Caesionidae. It is widespread around reefs in the Indo-West Pacific region.

<i>Pomadasys argenteus</i> Species of fish

Pomadasys argenteus, the silver grunt, silver javelin, grunter bream, small-spotted grunter-bream, small-spotted javelin fish, trumpeter or white-finned javelin fish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunt from the family Haemulidae. This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. It is the type species of the genus Pomadasys.

<i>Etelis carbunculus</i> Species of fish

Etelis carbunculus, the deep-water red snapper, ruby snapper, longtail snapper, or ehu, is a species of ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fricke, R. (2010). "Caesio caerulaurea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T155097A4703967. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T155097A4703967.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Caesio caerulaurea". FishBase . February 2021 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Caesio". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  4. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Lutjanidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  5. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (5 January 2021). "Order LUTJANIFORMES: Families HAEMULIDAE and LUTJANIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  6. 1 2 K.E. Carpenter (2001). "Caesionidae". In Carpenter, K.E. & Volker H. Neim (eds.). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific Volume 5: Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae) (PDF). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. FAO Rome. p. 2926.
  7. 1 2 3 Bray, D.J & Thompson, A.S. (2020). "Caesio caerulaurea". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.