CAESIONIDAE


Caesio caerulaurea, 6.0 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Caesio caerulaurea
Lacepède, 1801
Blue-and-gold Fusilier

D X, 14-16; A III, 12-13; P1 19-22; LLp 57-65.

Body fusiform and elongate. A single postmaxillary process; small conical teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Scale rows above lateral line 8-10; dorsal and anal fins scaly; the scale rows on spinous part of dorsal fin horizontal; supratemporal band of scales often interrupted at dorsal midline by a V-shaped scaleless zone; 3-5 scales on cheek; 22-25 predorsal scales. Color: upper body bluish, lower body white to pale bluish; a single yellow stripe from above the eye, running along the body and above lateral line, to upper caudal peduncle. Size: maximum length about 35 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific. Remarks: inhabits coastal areas, primarily around coral reefs to depths of around 40 m. (Ukkrit Satapoomin)