Variable-lined Fusilier

Caesio varilineata is a small to medium-sized fish which grows to about 40 cm (16 in) long. The eyes are large, the mouth is small and terminal and is protrusible, being able to be extended forward to swallow food. The body is fusiform or spindle-shaped. The caudal fin is deeply forked. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 14–16 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 11–13 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 40 cm (16 in). The body colouration is silver green-blue with from 2 to 6 yellow longitudinal lines which intensity and width are variable. The external part of the lobes from the caudal fin are lined with black.

Caesio varilineata is only found in the Indian Ocean from western Indonesia to the eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea and Persian Gulf included. It lives in the open water close to reef and the external reefs. This species was recently reported from the Mediterranean Sea off Alexandria, Egypt, a likely entry via the Suez Canal. As there are no coral reefs in the Mediterranean these fusiliers have probably adapted to use rock reefs covered by Anthozoa.