Description:

Dorsal spines: 10; Dorsal rays: 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8-9.

Body fusiform. Eye large, interorbital space convex, snout short. Jaws with an outer series of well-developed canine teeth and an inner band of small villiform teeth. Large 
adults have protruding teeth at front of lower jaw. Upper jaw protrusile. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Pectoral fins long, reaching level of anus. Caudal fin 
deeply forked.

Colour. Blue with a brilliant yellow band along the back below the dorsal fin, that continues onto the caudal peduncle and caudal fin. Other fins whitish or hyaline. When 
cruising may exhibit alternative colour pattern of uniform dark green brown.
 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 50 cm TL.
 

Occurs over rocky bottoms (depth 5-250 m, typically 20-150 m). Sometimes forming large schools well above the bottom. Feeds largely on zooplankton.
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery, typically when fishing at depth at the edge of the Mahe plateau. It 
is an occasional to rare and not numerous component of the catch.

Allen, G.R. (1985). FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6 Snappers of the World. UNFAO Rome 1985.
Bray, D.J. Paracaesio xanthura in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/571 (29/03/19)
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Paracaesio-xanthurus.html (28/03/19).
Heemstra, P. & Heemstra, E. (2004). Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC SAIAB. ISBN: 1-920033-01-7.
Russell, B. et al. (2016). Paracaesio xanthura. The IUCN Red List 2016: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T194349A2318370.en. (29/0319).

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Paracaesio xanthura, Yellowtail blue snapper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/paracaesio-xanthura-bleeker-1869/ (edited 22/07/22).