Mottled fusilier (Dipterygonotus balteatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Eupercaria incertae sedis · Family: Caesionidae · Genus: Dipterygonotus.

Accepted name: Dipterygonotus balteatus · Authority: (Valenciennes, 1830) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 219997.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Dipterogonotus leucogramicus Bleeker, 1849; Dipterygonatus balteatus (Valenciennes, 1830); Dipterygonotus balteata (Valenciennes, 1830); Dipterygonotus gruveli Chabanaud, 1924; Dipterygonotus leucogrammicus Bleeker, 1849; Dipterygonotus leucogrammieus Bleeker, 1849; Smaris balteatus Valenciennes, 1830.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=219997 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Dipterygonotus balteatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 14 cm · Depth range: 37–91 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Primarily a near-shore pelagic species (Ref. 30573), but swims mainly in open water away from reefs (Ref. 48636). Forms dense aggregations (Ref. 90102). Mixed with other planktivores and is easily overlooked. Feeds on zooplankton (Ref. 30573). Oviparous, with numerous, small pelagic eggs (Ref. 402). Caught at night using lights and dip nets (Ref. 30573). Important tuna bait fish in some countries (Ref. 30573).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 928) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dipterygonotus-balteatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,382 georeferenced occurrence records for Dipterygonotus balteatus are published through GBIF from 23 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 144 distinct locations from a sample of 1,382 records, omitting 21 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (1,170); Philippines (50); Thailand (35); Indonesia (29); Viet Nam (19).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2374804) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2374804&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=219997 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Dipterygonotus balteatus (Valenciennes, 1830) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 20251047) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/20251047/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2374804) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2374804/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The mottled fusilier was first formally described in 1830 as Smaris balteatus by the French zoologist Achille Valenciennes with the type locality being given as Sri Lanka. In 1849, the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker described a new species, Dipterygonotus leucogrammicus. placing it in a new monotypic genus. Bleeker's species was later shown to be a synonym of Smaris balteatus but the genus is considered to be valid. The genus name is a compound of di meaning "two" and pterygion which means fin and notus meaning "back", at the time Valenciennes thought that this species was porgy belonging to the family Sparidae but one which had the spiny dorsal fin obviously different, and occasionally apart, from the soft rayed part. The specific name balteatus means "belted" or "banded", a reference to the stripe on the upper flanks.

The mottled fusilier has a slender, fusiform body which is elongate and shows moderate lateral compression. There are small conical teeth on maxillae and the vomer but there are none on the premaxilla and palatines. The dorsal fin has 14 spines and 8 to 11 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and normally 9 or 10 soft rays. There are 16–19 pectoral fin rays. This species grows to a maximum total length of 14 cm. The overall colour is silvery darkening to brownish or bronze on the back. There is a silvery stripe along the flank from the upper operculum to the caudal peduncle, and there are 3–4 light sinuous thin stripes on the back.

The mottled fusilier has a wide Indo-Pacific range. It occurs along the eastern coast of Africa from the Gulf of Aden to South Africa, east across the Indian Ocean to the Solomon Islands, south as far as Australia and northwards to southern Japan. In addition, the mottled fusilier has also been recorded from New Caledonia. In Australian waters it is distributed from north of Port Hedland in Western Australia extending north around the tropical coast to the east coast where it reaches as far south as Hat Head in New South Wales and off the reefs of the Coral Sea. Several individuals were reported in 2017 in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off Lebanon, likely introduced via the Suez Canal.

It is found at depths between 37 and 91 m. The adults are mainly pelagic over the continental shelf comparatively distant from reefs. They may form mixed species schools with other inshore small pelagic species. The juveniles are frequently found around reefs.

The mottled fusilier forms mixed species schools with other pelagic fish such as sardines and anchovies. It feeds on zooplankton. It is an oviparous species which lays large numbers of small, pelagic eggs.

The mottled fusilier is subject to heavy fishing pressure in southeast Asia and may make up a significant proportion of landings of small pelagic fishes. It is sometimes caught to be used as bait in fisheries for larger species such as tuna. They are taken at night, lights being used to attract them and dip nets the used to capture the fish. It can be sold fresh alongside sardines and anchovies in the Philippines.

Source: Wikipedia: Mottled fusilier — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mottled_fusilier (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.