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 cuning (Bloch, 1791) English Name: Redbelly Yellowtail Fusilier French Name: Caesio ventre rouge Mandarin Name: 豆腐鱼 (Dòufu yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Delah, Delah Pinang, Bagan, Sulit Local Hokkien: Tau Hoo Local Teochew: Tau Hoo 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: 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 Size: Maximum size about 40 cm.  Scientific Name: Pterocaesio digramma (Bleeker, 1864) English Name: Double-lined Fusilier, Double Stripe Fusilier Mandarin Name: 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: 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. Size: Maximum size about 30 cm.   |