Description:

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

Moderately deep fusiform body. Large eye and short snout. Well-developed outer series of canine teeth on both jaws. Long pectoral fin and caudal fin deeply forked. Scale 
rows on back parallel to lateral line. 

Colour. Dark purplish-brown to bluish paler ventrally. Dorsal and caudal fins brown to yellowish brown, other fins paler to translucent.  

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 48 cm TL. Common length approx. 30 cm.

Reef associated species occurs over rocky substrates at depths of 30-200 m (usually 100-200 m). Feeds on plankton.
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery when operating in deep waters at the edge of the Mahe plateau and 
other banks. It is a fairly uncommon component of the catch.  
 

Allen, G.R. (1985). FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6 Snappers of the World. UNFAO Rome 1985.
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/192 (28/03/19).
Russell, B. et al. (2016). Paracaesio sordida. The IUCN Red List 2016: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T194339A2315682.en. (28/03/19)

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Paracaesio sordida, Dirty ordure snapper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/paracaesio-sordida-abe-shinohara-1962/ (edited 22/07/22).