FusiliersCaesionidae

Fusiliers are schooling reef fishes with streamlined, torpedo-shaped bodies. Most species grow to between 20 and 60 cm (8-24 in). They typically have silvery bodies, often marked with yellow or blue stripes, and frequently show yellow on the fins or caudal peduncle. Their mouths are small and highly protrusible, adapted for feeding on zooplankton, and their caudal fins are deeply forked. Their common name references their streamlined bodies and habit of swimming in organised, cohesive schools, much like lines of soldiers.

These active fishes primarily inhabit outer reef slopes, drop-offs, and lagoon channels, ranging from the surface down to depths of at least 60 m (200 ft). They form large, fast-moving schools in mid-water, constantly feeding on zooplankton carried by currents. Schools maintain their cohesive structure even when approached, moving rapidly through the water column. They are a common sight on healthy 🌊 Red Sea reefs, often encountered in large numbers.