| Pterocaesio | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pterocaesio tile at Bunaken, Sulawesi | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Caesionidae |
| Genus: | Pterocaesio Bleeker, 1876 |
| Type species | |
| Caesio multiradiatus Steindachner, 1861 [1] | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
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.
Pterocaesio was described as a genus in 1876 by the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker with Franz Steindachner's Caesio multiradiatus as the type species. [1] This taxon was subsequently shown to be a synonym of Caesio tile which had been described by Georges Cuvier in 1830. [2] The generic name is a compound of ptero meaning "fin" and the genus name Caesio . Bleeker did not give an explanation of his name but it may be because the type species P. tile has a higher number of rays in the dorsal fin. 21, compared to 13-18 in Caesio. [3] Three subgenera have been proposed for Pteroceasio. [4]
Currently, 12 species in this genus are recognized, [5] and have been divided into subgenera by some authorities as follows: [3]
Subgenus SquamosicaesioCarpenter 1987
Pterocaesio fusiliers are characterised by having fusiform, elongated bodies which show moderate lateral compression. There are small conical teeth in the jaws and there may, or may not, be similar teeth in the vomer and palatines. The margin of the gill cover forms a flap near its top. The dorsal fin is continuous and has 10 or 11 spines and 14-16 soft rays, in some species this is 10-12 spines and 19-22 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 11-13 soft rays and the pectoral fin rays number 17-24. The flanks may be unmarked, there may be one or more horizontal stripes or they can show a large blotch over the base of the pectoral fin. The caudal fin can have black tips to the lobes or a dark streak in the middle of each lobe. [4]
Pterocaesio fusiliers are found in coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific, although they are absent from the Persian Gulf and the northern Arabian Sea, mainly remaining in the vicinity of coral reefs. [4]
Pterocaesio fusiliers are schooling fishes, often joining in mixed species schools with congeners [4] and with slender fusiliers (Gymnocaesio gymnoptera). [6] These school forage in midwater for zooplankton. Their strategy for reproduction is characterised by apparently attaining sexual maturity at a young age, high fertility and an extended spawning season. They gather in large aggregations to spawn and the timing of the aggregations is governed by the lunar cycle. [4]
Pterocaesio fusiliers are not very important food fish. Where fisheries land them they are caught using drive-in nets, gill nets, traps, by trawling and handlining. The landed fish are sold fresh and preserved as salt fish. Tuna fisheries may catch numbers of both juveniles and adults of some species to use as bait. [4] baitfish for tuna fisheries. [4]
Dendrochirus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. They are mostly known as turkeyfishes or pygmy lionfishes. They are native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are also popular aquarium fish.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Caesio caerulaurea, the blue and gold fusilier, 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.
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.
Pristipomoides is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lutjanidae, the snappers. They are found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.
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.
Aphareus furca, the small toothed jobfish, blue smalltooth jobfish, fork-tailed snapper or snapper jobbyfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
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.
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.
Paracaesio xanthura, the yellowtail blue snapper, the false fusilier, gold-backed fusilier, Pedley's fusilier or Southern fusilier, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region.
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.
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.
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.
Pinjalo pinjalo, the pinjalo, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.