Paracaesio
Paracaesio is a genus of marine fish belonging to the family Caesionidae, commonly known as fusiliers. This genus comprises about 7 species of colorful reef fish that are distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region.
Characteristics
Members of the genus Paracaesio are characterized by their elongated, fusiform bodies, which are typically silver or gold in color with distinctive markings, often stripes or spots. They possess a single dorsal fin with a deep notch separating the spiny and soft-rayed portions. Their mouths are small and terminal, and they have a single, prominent lateral line.
Environment
Paracaesio species are primarily found in shallow, coastal waters, typically inhabiting coral reefs, lagoons, and seagrass beds. They are often found in large schools, feeding on zooplankton and small invertebrates.
Species
The following species are recognized within the genus Paracaesio:
- Paracaesio caeruleopunctatus (Klunzinger, 1870)
- Paracaesio chrysozona (Cuvier, 1830)
- Paracaesio marginatus (Rüppell, 1835)
- Paracaesio xanthurus (Bleeker, 1853)
- Paracaesio tile (Cuvier, 1830)
- Paracaesio batu (Smith-Vaniz, 1976)
- Paracaesio sordidus (Smith-Vaniz, 1976)