Fusiliers are members of the Caesionidae family. They are distributed in the Indo-West Pacific water. They are marine fishes that inhabit mostly on coral reefs and occur near the surface to depths of 60 m. The fusiliers can be recognized by their protractile small mouth and deeply forked caudal fin. Their appearance are closely related to Paracaesio genus in the snappers family.
Fusiliers feed by picking zooplankton. They occur in large schools in mid-water over the reef, along steep outer reef slopes and around deep lagoon pinnacles. More than one species can be found together in a school. They are active swimmers during daytime and shelter within the reef at night.
There are 4 genera and about 22 species of Caesionidae worldwide. Malaysia has all 4 genera and about 15 species.
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Scientific Name: Caesio caerulaurea Lacepède, 1801 English Name: Blue And Gold Fusilier Mandarin Name: 豆腐鱼 (Dòufu yú), 乌尾鮗 (Wū wěi dōng) Local Malay Name: Ikan Delah, Pinang-pinang, Pisang-pisang, Sulit, Delah Biru Emas Local Hokkien: Tau Hoo Local Teochew: Tau Hoo Main Diagnostic Features: A single yellow stripe above lateral line bordered directly above and below by white or light blue stripe. Caudal fin lobes with black or blue median streaks. Size: Maximum total length about 35 cm, commonly to 25 cm.  Scientific Name: Caesio cuning (Bloch, 1791) English Name: Redbelly Yellowtail Fusilier French Name: Caesio ventre rouge Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 豆腐鱼 (Dòufu yú), 番薯鱼 (Fānshǔ yú), 黄尾鱼 (Huáng wěi yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Delah, Delah Pinang, Bagan, Sulit Local Hokkien: Tau Hoo Local Teochew: Tau Hoo Main Diagnostic Features: Caudal fin, upper caudal peduncle and posterior portion of back yellow in color. Upper body, where not yellow is in greyish blue. Lower sides, belly, pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins white to pink color. Axil and upper base of pectoral fins black. Size: Maximum total length about 60 cm.    Scientific Name: Caesio teres Seale, 1906 English Name: Yellow and Blueback Fusilier French Name: Fusilier à dos jaune et bleu Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 豆腐鱼 (Dòufu yú), 蓝黄梅鲷 (Lán huáng méi diāo) Local Malay Name: Ikan Delah, Delah Remong, Bagan, Sulit Local Hokkien: Tau Hoo Local Teochew: Tau Hoo Main Diagnostic Features: Body fusiform and compressed, not as deep as Caesio cuning. Bright yellow on caudal fin, caudal peduncle, and body above a diagonal from just anterior to dorsal-fin origin to ventral origin of caudal peduncle. Size: Maximum size about 40 cm.  Scientific Name: Pterocaesio chrysozona (Cuvier, 1830) English Name: Goldband Fusilier, Yellowband Fusilier Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 豆腐鱼 (Dòufu yú), 金带乌尾鮗 (Jīn dài wū wěi dong), 金带梅鲷 (Jīn dài méi diāo) Local Malay Name: Ikan Delah, Pinang-pinang, Sulit Jalur Emas Local Hokkien: Tau Hoo Local Teochew: Tau Hoo Main Diagnostic Features: Body light blue to brownish dorsally, white to pinkish ventrally. Broad yellow stripe directly below lateral line for most its length, except above lateral line on caudal peduncle. Tips of caudal fin lobes black. Size: Maximum total length about 21 cm.  Scientific Name: Pterocaesio digramma (Bleeker, 1864) English Name: Double-lined Fusilier, Double Stripe Fusilier Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 豆腐鱼 (Dòufu yú), 双带乌尾鮗 (Shuāng dài wū wěi dong), 双带梅鲷 (Shuāng dài méi diāo) Local Malay Name: Ikan Delah, Pinang-pinang, Sulit Dwijalur Local Hokkien: Tau Hoo Local Teochew: Tau Hoo Main Diagnostic Features: 2 longitudinal yellow stripes. The lower stripe crosses over the lateral line but not running on the lateral line for most of its length. Tips of caudal-fin lobes black Size: Maximum size about 35 cm.  Scientific Name: Pterocaesio tile (Cuvier, 1830) English Name: Dark-banded Fusilier Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 豆腐鱼 (Dòufu yú), 蒂尔乌尾鮗 (Dì ěr wū wěi dong), 长背梅鲷 (Zhǎng bèi méi diāo) Local Malay Name: Ikan Delah, Delah Karang, Sulit Jalur Hitam Local Hokkien: Tau Hoo Local Teochew: Tau Hoo Main Diagnostic Features: Lateral line covered for most of its length by a black stripe. Caudal fin with a black streak within each lobe. Scales above lateral line bluish green in their center and black on their margins, giving the appearance of a checkered pattern. Size: Maximum size about 30 cm.  
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