Blue and gold fusilier, Blue fusilier, Gold-band fusilier, Scissor-tailed fusilier
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.
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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SocialNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withCaesio caeruaurea has a quite deep, fusiform, elongated body which shows moderate lateral compression. There are small conical teeth in the jaws as well as on the vomer and the palatine. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 14-16 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 10-12 soft rays. The dorsal and anal fins have scales. This species attains a maximum total length of 35 cm (14 in), although 25 cm (9.8 in) is more typical. The overall colour of this fusilier is bluish fusilier changing to white on the underside. There is a yellow or golden stripe over the lateral line bordered on both sides by a thin white to pale blue stripe which continues as blackish streaks on both lobes of the forked caudal fin, creating the appearance of scissors.
Caesio caerulaurea has a wide distribution in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. It is found along the eastern coast of Africa from the Red Sea as far south as South Africa then east along through the Indian Ocean, although it is absent from the Persian Gulf into the Pacific. In the Pacific Ocean their range extends east as far as French Polynesia, northwards to southern Japan and south as far as Vanuatu and New Caledonia. In Australia it is found from Shark Bay in Western Australia north to Cassini Island, the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea and from the northern Great Barrier Reef off, Queensland south to Sydney. It also occurs at Christmas Island and Lord Howe Island. It occurs at depths between 2 and 40 m (6 ft 7 in and 131 ft 3 in). This species occurs on coastal, lagoon and seaward reefs, typically where there is a healthy growth of corals.
Caesio caerulaurea forms large schools in midwater where they feed on zooplankton. They attain sexual maturity quite early, have a high fecundity with numerous small pelagic eggs. Spawning takes place during most of the year, and occurs as mass spawning on lunar cycles.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...