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Three-stripe fusilier (Pterocaesio trilineata) — Caesionidae

Three-stripe fusilier

Pterocaesio trilineata
Family: Caesionidae

The Three-stripe fusilier (Pterocaesio trilineata) is a saltwater fish of the family Caesionidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1–30 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Brunei Darsm, China, Mayotte and others
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The three-stripe fusilier is a fusilier (Caesionidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a streamlined, blue-green body with three narrow dark longitudinal stripes and a yellow-edged tail. As an open-water reef-dweller it swims in large, fast schools along steep outer reefs and picks suspended zooplankton. It is a food and bait fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Three-stripe fusilier?

The Three-stripe fusilier has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Three-stripe fusilier live?

The Three-stripe fusilier lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Brunei Darsm, China, Mayotte and others

How big does the Three-stripe fusilier get?

The Three-stripe fusilier grows to a maximum of about 20 cm. On average the species is around 13 cm.

Is the Three-stripe fusilier dangerous to humans?

No, the Three-stripe fusilier is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Three-stripe fusilier edible?

The Three-stripe fusilier is rarely eaten.

More photos

Three-stripe fusilier (Pterocaesio trilineata) — Caesionidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Debra Baker, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Three-stripe fusilier (Pterocaesio trilineata) — Caesionidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Three-stripe fusilier (Pterocaesio trilineata) — Caesionidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY 3.0)
Three-stripe fusilier (Pterocaesio trilineata) — Caesionidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) National Coral Reef Monitoring Program - Pacific Region, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Three-stripe fusilier sourced
Scientific name
Pterocaesio trilineata
Family
Caesionidae
Other names
Striped fusilier; Three-lined fusilier; Threestripe fusilier; Three-stripe fusilier; Three-striped fusilier verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20 verified
Average length (cm)
13 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1 verified
Max depth (m)
30 verified
Natural range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Brunei Darsm, China, Mayotte and others sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No
Activity
Diurnal
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pterocaesio

More from the family Caesionidae

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