Fusilier Snapper (Paracaesio sordida), also known as Dirty Ordure Snapper, Fusilier Snapper, and Smallscale Snapper, is a tropical marine species that is typically reef-associated. It inhabits depths ranging from 5 to 200 meters, though it is more commonly found between 5 and 100 meters. The species can reach a maximum length of 48 cm, with an average length of approximately 27.5 cm.
Characterized by its reddish dorsal and caudal fins, the Fusilier Snapper tends to be solitary, although it frequently forms large schools near deep reef slopes. Its diet primarily consists of plankton, and it is commonly sold in fresh markets.
Geographically, the Fusilier Snapper is distributed across the Indo-Pacific region, from the 🌊 Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesas and Pitcairn Islands, extending northward to the Ryukyu Islands (🇯🇵 Japan).
Why it's threatened
Although P. sordida is an important food fish in some areas, it is usually caught in relatively low numbers (Anderson and Allen 2001). There are no other known threats to this species.
Threat classification from the IUCN Red List.
