CAESIONIDAE


Pterocaesio tessellata, 12.9 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Pterocaesio tessellata
Carpenter, 1987
Onestripe Fusilier

D X-XI, 14-16; A III, 11-13; P1 20-22; LLp 69-75.

Body fusiform, elongate, and moderately compressed. Scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin usually 16-18. Color: upper body light bluish green; body white ventrally; centres of scales on upper two-thirds of body lighter than distal portion, giving a checkered appearance; a single yellow longitudinal stripe laterally, about 1 scale wide, covering lateral line for most of its length, usually running dorsal to lateral line on caudal peduncle; pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins white to pinkish; axil of pectoral fins black; dorsal fin light bluish green; caudal fin dusky, the tips of lobes black. Size: maximum size about 25 cm. Distribution: central and eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific. Remarks: inhabits coastal areas around coral reefs. Feeds on zooplankton in midwater aggregations. Moderately important as a food fish. Caught primarily by drive-in net, gill net, and traps. Marketed mostly fresh. (Yukio Iwatsuki)