The Yellow-band Fusilier (Pterocaesio chrysozona), part of the Caesionidae family within the Perciformes order, is one of about 23 species adapted to feed on plankton rather than larger prey, unlike their relatives the snappers.
Distinguishing Features
The Yellow-band Fusilier is distinguished by its vibrant yellow band running horizontally across its body, contrasting with its blue to greenish-blue upper body and silver lower body. It has a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body that facilitates swift swimming. This fusilier also features a forked tail and a pointed snout, typical of the fusilier family.
Defensive Behavior
The Yellow-band Fusilier employs a defensive behavior of forming large, tightly-knit schools to reduce individual predation risk. When threatened, these schools can quickly disperse in various directions, making it challenging for predators to target a single fish. Additionally, they often seek shelter among coral reefs and rocky structures to evade predators.
Feeding and diet
The Yellow-band Fusilier primarily feeds on plankton and small zooplankton. They use their specialized, small, and closely set teeth to filter these tiny organisms from the water. As they swim through the water column, they often exhibit a schooling behavior, which helps them efficiently capture and consume planktonic prey.
Reproduction
Yellow-band Fusiliers reproduce through sexual reproduction involving distinct male and female individuals. During spawning, males and females come together to release eggs and sperm into the water column. This process typically occurs in large groups or schools, where multiple pairs of fish release their gametes simultaneously. The fertilized eggs then drift with the current until they hatch into larvae, which eventually settle and grow into adult fish.
Predators
Yellow-band Fusiliers have several predators in the ocean, including larger fish, sharks, jacks, groupers and dolphins. These predators rely on their speed, agility, and hunting skills to capture fusiliers, which are often found schooling in large groups. The fusiliers' strategy of swimming in schools helps them avoid predators by confusing and overwhelming their attackers, but their predators are skilled at navigating through these schools to catch individual fish. Humans can be predators of fusiliers; they catch them for food, especially in some fishing areas. Fusiliers are part of the catch for both commercial and recreational fishermen, and overfishing can be a concern.
Where to Find Yellow-band Fusilier on Koh Tao
While you can spot Yellow-band Fusiliers at many dive sites around Koh Tao, if you're looking to see massive schools, check out these locations:
