CAESIONIDAE


Pterocaesio chrysozona, 9.9 cm SL
(photo by Richard Winterbottom)


Pterocaesio chrysozona
(Cuvier, 1830)
Goldband Fusilier

D X-XI, 14-16; A III, 11-12; P1 17-20; LLp 64-69.

Body fusiform, elongate, and moderately compressed. Scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 7-9; scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin 14-16. Color: upper body light blue to brownish, lower body white to pinkish; a bright yellow band directly below lateral line for most of its length, from behind eye to base of caudal fin, 2 to 3 scales wide anteriorly, tapering to 1 scale in width on caudal peduncle where it is above lateral line; a less conspicuous yellow stripe along dorsal midline; fins white to pinkish; axil of pectoral fins black; dorsal fin slightly dusky distally; tips of caudal-fin lobes black. Size: maximum size about 21 cm. Distribution: widespread Indo-West Pacific. Remarks: feeds on zooplankton in large midwater aggregations. Moderately important as a food fish. Caught by drive-in net, gill net, traps, hook and line, and occasionally by trawl. (Yukio Iwatsuki)