FAMILIES - Detail

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FishBase

Family Caesionidae - Fusiliers

Order:

Perciformes

Class:

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

No. of Genera:

No. of Species:

Environment:

Fresh: No Brackish: No Marine: Yes

Aquarium:

some

First Fossil Record:

Ref.:

Remark:

Distribution: Indo-West Pacific. Dorsal fin having 10-15 slender spines; soft rays 8-22. Three spines in anal fin; soft rays 9-13. Jaws with small teeth in most species. Upper jaw highly protractile. Vertebrae 24. To about 60 cm maximum length. Fusiliers are closely related to snappers (Lutjanidae) but possess several adaptations for a planktivorous mode of life, such as the elongate fusiform body, the small mouth, and the deeply forked caudal fin. During the day they occur in large zooplankton feeding schools in mid-water over the reef, along steep outer reef slopes and around deep lagoon pinnacles. Although they are active swimmers, they often pause to pick zooplankton and at cleaning stations, and shelter within the reef at night. Require unrestricted space, hence unsuitable for home aquaria. Fusiliers are important food fishes and are also used as bait in tuna fisheries.

Etymology:

Latin, caesius = bluish-grey ( Ref. 45335).

Division:

Marine

Reproductive guild:

nonguarders

Typical activity level:

active

Main Ref.:

Carpenter, K.E..1988

Coordinator:

Show species | Nominal species list for Caesionidae | Identification keys | CAS specimen photos | References

Update \| Add new Family	Ref.:				Glossary
		( e.g. 9948)				( e.g. cephalopods)