Yellowtail blue snapper (Paracaesio xanthurus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Paracaesio xanthurus · Authority: (Bleeker, 1869) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 401693.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Aetiasis cantharoides Barnard, 1937; Apsilus xanthurus (Bleeker, 1869); Caesio xanthurus Bleeker, 1869; Paracaesio pedleyi Mcculloch & Waite, 1916; Paracaesio tumidus (Tanaka, 1917); Paracaesio xanthura (Bleeker, 1869); Paraceasio xanthurus (Bleeker, 1869); Vegetichthys tumidus Tanaka, 1917.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=401693 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 50 cm · Depth range: 5–250 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 40 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Adults occur over rocky bottoms, sometimes forming large schools. They feed largely on zooplankton (Ref. 30573). Caught mainly with handlines and bottom longlines and marketed fresh or frozen (Ref. 9821).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 194) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Paracaesio-xanthurus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

708 georeferenced occurrence records for Paracaesio xanthurus are published through GBIF from 26 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 102 distinct locations from a sample of 708 records, omitting 19 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 (458); South Africa (110); Indonesia (37); Japan (26); Philippines (16); Chinese Taipei (13); Mozambique (12); Réunion (5); Seychelles (4); Mauritius (3); Maldives (3); French Polynesia (3); Wallis and Futuna (3); Mayotte (3); Cook Islands (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mtwapa; Ungama Bay.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2384699) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2384699&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=401693 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Paracaesio xanthura (Bleeker, 1869) 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 194349) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194349/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2384699) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2384699/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Paracaesio xanthura has a fusiform and moderately deep body. It has large eyes which are separated by a convex area, and a short snout which has a length equal to the diameter of the eye. The upper and lower jaws are roughly equal in length and are equipped with an outer row of canine-like teeth and an inner band of small bristle-like teeth.

The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 10-11 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8-9 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 50 cm. This species is bright blue with a vivid yellow band which runs along its back and extends onto the caudal peduncle and the caudal fin.

Distribution

Paracaesio xanthura has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. It is found from Kenya to South Africa on the coast of eastern Africa through the Indian Ocean, including Madagascar, Comoros Islands, Seychelles, Mauritius and Réunion as well as the Gulf of Aden, the Maldives and Chagos Islands, Sri Lanka and southern India. In the Pacific, it is found as far north as southern Japan, south to Australia and from the Andaman Sea in the west east to the Austral Islands. In Australia it is found on the Houtman Abrolhos and the offshore reefs off northwestern Western Australia, as well as the northern Great Barrier Reef in Queensland south to Montague Island in New South Wales and east to Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.

Habitat and biology

Paracaesio xanthura is associated with reefs and is found over rocky substrates where it occasionally forms large aggregations. It feeds mainly on zooplankton and is found at depths between 5 and 250 m.

Systematics and etymology

Paracaesio xanthura was first formally described in 1869 as Caseio xanthurus by the Dutch ichthyologist, herpetologist and physician Pieter Bleeker with the type locality given as Nosy-Bé off Madagascar. When Bleeker created the genus Paracaesio C. xanthoura was its only species and so was the type species by monotypy, subsequently other species were added. The specific name xanthura means "yellow tail", a reference to the yellow caudal peduncle and tail.

Utilisation

Paracaesio xanthura is considered to be a good food fish in some parts of its range and it is mostly taken using handlines and longlines. The catch is sold either fresh or frozen.

Source: Wikipedia: Paracaesio xanthura — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracaesio_xanthura (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.