Several species of fusiliers, including Pterocaesio chrysozona, are used as juveniles as livebait in the pole and line tuna fishery in the Maldives, with an estimated 2000 tonnes of "muguraan" being used annually.
Details
§ 01
size
Common to 14 cm; max. 21 cm
color
Bluish dorsally. Sides with a yellow band just below lateral line anteriorly running from the eye to the caudal fin base. Fins yellowish. Caudal fin lobes black.
This species is found in shallow waters, such as rocky and coral reef areas, where it feeds on zooplankton in large groups.
distinctive characters
This fish has a dorsal fin with 10 spines and 15 (rarely 14) rays, an anal fin with 3 spines and 12 (rarely 11) rays, and a body depth of 3.4-4.0 in standard length. It is an elongate, fusiform, and compressed fish with a maxillary that extends below the front border of the eye and a pectoral fin equal to the head length without snout. Additionally, the bases of the dorsal and anal fins are covered with scales.