ANIMAL SPECIES:Yellowtail Fusilier, Caesio cuning (Bloch, 1791)
The Yellowtail Fusilier has a greyish-blue body. The soft portion of the dorsal fin is yellow, as is the top of the caudal peduncle and the caudal fin. The bottom third of the body is often white with a pink-reddish tinge. This gives this species its common name.
Identification
The Yellowtail Fusilier has a greyish-blue body. The soft portion of the dorsal fin is yellow, as is the top of the caudal peduncle and the caudal fin. The bottom third of the body is often white with a pink-reddish tinge. This gives this species its common name.
Size range
The species grows to 60 cm in length.Distribution
It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, from Sri Lanka, throughout South-east Asia and Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to Vanuatu.
In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to central New South Wales.
Habitat
The Yellowtail Fusilier inhabits offshore reef slopes, commonly in large schools. It is found at depths from 1 m to 60 m.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
It is usually seen hovering in midwater feeding on zooplankton.
Classification
- Species:
- cuning
- Genus:
- Caesio
- Family:
- Lutjanidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
- Carpenter, K.E., 1987 Revision of the Indo-Pacific fish family Caesionidae (Lutjanoidea), with descriptions of five new species. Indo-Pacific Fishes (15): 1-56.
- Carpenter, K. E. 1988. FAO species catalog. Vol. 8. Fusilier fishes of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of caesionid species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. No. 125: i-iv + 1-75.
- Carpenter, K. E. 2001. Caesionidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 5. Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-iv, 2791-3379.
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.
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