Yellow Tail Fusilier (Casio cuning) - (No Online Purchases)

The most common species is Caesio cuning, also known as the Redbelly Yellowtail Fusilier. There is also the Yellow and Blueback Fusilier (Caesio teres), which is sometimes referred to by the same common name.

Key Facts
Scientific Name: Caesio cuning

Family: Caesionidae (Fusiliers)

Other Names: Redbelly Yellowtail Fusilier, Robust Fusilier, Giant Fusilier.

Size: Can grow up to 60 cm (about 2 feet), though 35-40 cm is typical.

Appearance
Body Colouration:The upper body is generally greyish-blue or sometimes yellow on the back.

Signature Yellow: The caudal (tail) fin is bright yellow, and this yellow color also extends onto the caudal peduncle (the narrow part of the body to which the tail fin is attached) and the soft, rear portion of the dorsal fin.

Belly Colour:The lower third of the body is often white with a pinkish or reddish tinge, hence the name "Redbelly."

Body Shape: It has a moderately deep, laterally compressed, and fusiform (spindle-shaped) body.

Habitat and Behaviour
Distribution: Found throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific Ocean, ranging from Sri Lanka to Fiji, and from southern Japan down to northern Australia.

Habitat: It is a reef-associated species, typically found in coastal waters over rocky and coral reefs at depths of 1 to 60 meters. It can also tolerate silty areas with low visibility.

Diet:It is a planktivore, feeding on zooplankton (like salps, pteropods, and copepods) in the mid-water column.

Social Behaviour: They are active, diurnal fish that live in large schools, which often create spectacular displays for divers.