Scientific Name
Caesio caerulaurea

Common Name
Blue and gold fusilier

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 (Ref. 48636).

Classification

Classified By

Lacep?de, 1801

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Fusiliers (Caesionidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

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.

Range

34°N - 23°S, 32°E - 116°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 5 - 50 m (Ref. 30874)

Trophic Level

3.4 s.e. 0.45 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

35.0 cm

Common Length

23.5 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5039 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; bait: occasionally

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)