Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Body blue to greenish dorsally, white ventrally. With two thin yellow to orange lines; lower line mostly just below lateral line. Black tips on caudal fin (Ref. 48636). 4-5 scales on cheek; 24-31 predorsal scales; scaled dorsal and anal fins. Upper peduncular scale rows usually 12 or 13 (11-14); lower peduncular scale rows usually 16 or 17 (16-18). A broad process on ventrolateral surface of basioccipital for attachment of Baudelot's ligament, extending ventrally beyond a horizontal with condyle's rim, adjacent to condyle. Post maxillary with 2 processes; posterior end of maxilla tapered (Ref. 1723). Head length 3.0-3.5 in SL; body depth 3.5-4.1 in SL (Ref. 90102).
- Recorder
- Estelita Emily Capuli
Life Cycle
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Mating behavior observed from an aquarium include six distinguishable patterns: 1) up and down swimming; 2) courtship; 3) rushing; 4) pair spawning; 5) sperm release by sneakers; and 6) post spawning (Ref. 37529).At nearly sunset, the usual quiet pack of fish give way to spawners swimming at the surface. A male selects a female and initiates pecking and pushing of the female's abdomen with his snout. At the rushing stage, the male pushed the female forward, and the couple began to swim in a semicircle in short bursts while other 10-15 sneakers within the school joined in. The initial couple then released eggs and sperm at the surface with their abdomens facing one another. Some of the leading sneakers may also release sperm at the same spot where the initial couple spawned. After spawning, the pair with the sneakers return to the school (Ref. 37529).
Morphology
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Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 11 - 12
- Recorder
- Estelita Emily Capuli
Trophic Strategy
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Schooling species which occurs inshore (Ref. 75154). Often found in mixed-species groups with other caesionids.
- Recorder
- Estelita Emily Capuli
Biology
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Found in coastal areas, primarily around coral reefs (Ref. 402), turning bright red (Ref. 48636). Feed on zooplankton in midwater aggregations (Ref. 402). Oviparous, with numerous, small pelagic eggs (Ref. 402).
Importance
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fisheries: commercial