Marine Life

Dark-banded fusilier

Garahitha muguraan

Pterocaesio tile

Pterocaesio tile is one of the most common fusiliers in the Maldives, with juveniles often used as live bait by tuna fishermen. Additionally, larger neon-blue-striped individuals form gleaming schools on the reefs, making them a greater attraction for divers.

Details

§ 01

size: Common to 18 cm; max. 30 cm
color: Scales above the lateral line bluish green in their centres and black on their margins. Lateral line covered for most of its length by a black stripe about one scale width with a broad brilliant light blue zone below it. Lower third of body white to pinkish. Caudal fin with a black streaks on each lobe.
order: Perciformes
family: Lutjanidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/pterocaesio-tile.png
habitat and biology: This fish is found in coastal waters and around coral and rocky reefs. It is a schooling species, often seen in groups with other fusiliers. Its diet consists of zooplankton which it feeds on in midwater aggregations.
distinctive characters: The dorsal fin of this species has 11 (or rarely 10) spines and 19-22 rays, the anal fin has 3 spines and 13 rays, and the pectoral fin has 22-24 rays. Its body is fusiform, elongated, and compressed, with a depth of 3.8-4.4 in standard length, and the bases of the dorsal and anal fins are covered with scales.