Doubleline Fusilier, Pterocaesio digramma (Bleeker, 1865)

Scientific name: Pterocaesio digramma
Alternative name/s:
Black-tipped Fusilier, Two-sptripe Fusilier, Twin Yellow-striped Fusilier
Doubleline Fusiliers Click to enlarge image
Doubleline Fusiliers at a depth of 12 m, 'Phil's Reef', Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, December, 1999. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pterocaesio
    Species
    digramma
    Family
    Lutjanidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 30cm in length.

Introduction

The Doubleline Fusilier is a slender species that is usually seen swimming in schools well above the bottom.

Identification

The Doubleline Fusilier can usually be recognised by its colouration. During the day it is blue to green dorsally, white ventrally and has black caudal fin tips. At night the colouration changes to that seen in the lower image.

There are always two yellow stripes running along the sides of the body. The upper stripe runs from the nape to the caudal peduncle, following the dorsal body profile. The lower stripe follows the lateral line from the eye to the caudal fin base.

It is often listed in publications as P.diagramma (with an 'a' as the third letter). This spelling is incorrect.

Habitat

It lives on coral reefs where it schools in midwater.

Distribution

The species is recorded from Indonesia to New Caledonia and north to southern Japan. In Australia it occurs off central to north-western Western Australia and from northern Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of north-western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Carpenter, K. E. 1988. FAO species catalog. Vol. 8. Fusilier fishes of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of caesionid species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. No. 125: i-iv + 1-75.