Indonesian Sawtail

Prionurus chrysurus is a distinctive species within the genus Prionurus, the dorsal fin is supported by 9 spines and 23 soft rays, the anal fin contains 3 spines and 22 soft rays. The pectoral fins have 17 rays. There are between 8 and 10 bony plates with keels on the middle of the rear flanks and many small bony plates on the upper rear part of the body. The overall colour is brown, with thin vermillion bars on the flanks and a yellow caudal fin. The maximum published standard length of the Indonesian sawtail is 30 cm (12 in).

Prionurus chrysurus is found in the Western Pacific Ocean where it is known only from Indonesia. It is found from Bali to western Flores and also off Lombok. The species in the genus Prionurus shows an Antitropical distribution in the Pacific preferring cooler waters and the Indonesian sawtail prefers upwellings where the water temperature is 20-23 °C. It has been postulated that it is a glacial relict which had a wider distribution in a period off global cooler temperatures.

== References ==

Prionurus chrysurus has a specific name, chrysurus which combines "chrysos", meaning "gold", with ouros, which means "tail", a reference to the yellow caudal fin of this fish.