Goldband Fusilier

The gold-band fusilier (Pterocaesio chrysozona), also referred to as the yellow-band fusilier or black-tipped fusilier, is a marine ray-finned fish classified under the family Caesionidae. This species is prevalent in reef environments across the Indo-West Pacific region.

Initially described in 1830 by French zoologist Georges Cuvier as Caesio chrysozona, the type locality was identified as the "Archipel des Indes," now known as 🇮🇩 Indonesia. In 1987, Kent E. Carpenter's comprehensive review of the Caesionidae family categorized this species within the subgenus Pisinnicaesio, where it serves as the type species. The specific epithet, chrysozona, translates to "gold band," alluding to the species' distinctive yellow stripe along its flanks.

The gold-band fusilier exhibits a fusiform and elongated body that is moderately laterally compressed. It features small conical teeth in both its jaws and on the vomer and palatines. The dorsal fin is composed of 10-11 spines and 14-16 soft rays, while the anal fin includes 3 spines and 11-13 soft rays. Scales are present on both the dorsal and anal fins, and the pectoral fins contain 17-20 rays. This species reaches a maximum total length of 21 cm (8.3 in) and is characterized by a pale blue to brownish coloration, fading to pinkish or white on the ventral side with a prominent yellow band along the flanks beneath the lateral line.

Geographically, the gold-band fusilier inhabits the tropical 🇮🇳 Indian and Western 🌊 Pacific Oceans, ranging from 🇲🇿 Mozambique along Africa's eastern coast to the 🌊 Red Sea, and extending eastward across the 🌊 Indian Ocean. It is notably absent from the northern Arabian Sea and the 🌊 Persian Gulf but extends east in the 🌊 Pacific Ocean to the 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands, north to the Yaeyama Islands, and south to 🇦🇺 Australian waters. In 🇦🇺 Australia, this species is found from the Dampier Archipelago in Western Australia to Sydney, residing at depths of 5 to 35 meters (16 to 115 feet) amidst coral reefs, seagrasses, outer reef slopes, and around pinnacles within deep lagoons.

Gold-band fusiliers are non-migratory and form schools during daylight, dispersing at night to seek shelter within reefs. These schools primarily forage for zooplankton in midwater. As an oviparous species, the gold-band fusilier produces numerous small, pelagic eggs.

In commercial fisheries, the gold-band fusilier holds minor significance. In the 🇵🇭 Philippines, they are occasionally caught and sold fresh using traps and drive-in nets. Additionally, in regions such as the Laccadive Islands (🇮🇳 India), 🇲🇻 Maldives, and the Western Pacific, they are utilized as baitfish in pole and line tuna fisheries.